The impact of the public library as a children’s reading resource

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to assess the public library as a reading resource for children in the Colombo Metropolitan Area, Sri Lanka.Method: The Colombo Public Library, Sri Lanka, was selected as the case study, and the survey method was used in this research. The study population was children under 14 years attached to the Colombo Public Library, Sri Lanka. The population was stratified, and a sample selection criteria ere were nonprobability sampling technique. A questionnaire and structural interviews were utilized for data collection in the survey.Findings: The research revealed that children’s library should be positioned at a point where the children would find easy access to it. A large number of students in grades 7 and 9 were patronized this children library. Most of the students in the schools within the Colombo Metropolitan Area same frequency use the children’s library. The services such as interlibrary loans, documentation, government publications, and audiovisual services are not provided in the children’s library. There are imbalances between the Sinhala, Tamil, and English media in the distribution of library books. Although the number of periodicals is limited, the contents of those periodicals are too advanced for children under 14 years of age in terms of information, intellect, and appreciation. The primary significant drawbacks of the collection of newspapers are that this section of the library does not have Tamil and English medium newspapers for the readers. It is an obstacle to developing moral, social, and educational skills among children.Implications/Novel Contribution: This analysis is expected to be useful for the Colombo Public Library to upgrade library services to young users as promoters of children’s reading habits. The data will also be useful for any library to formulate library development programs and plan new children’s library development schemes for juvenile users.

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