A Study on the Mobile Library Services in the Public Libraries: With reference to the Public Libraries in Matara District, Sri Lanka

Abstract

The Public library is an institution that provides equal access to all. It stands in societies with diverse development stages and cultures. Hence, the manner of service as well as the way of providing the service differs from context to context. Extension service is one of the many services which should be provided by the public libraries, as it offers service for a diversity of readers and also it benefits in giving a clear idea about library services to those that currently do not use it. The main purpose of this concept is to take the library to readers who have difficulties visiting the library. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate the application, practice and challenges of providing mobile library services by the public libraries. The Survey method was utilized as the data collection method. The study involved public libraries in Matara district, Sri Lanka as the study sample. The survey revealed that the libraries do not possess a separate collection of books for the mobile library service, the books in the mobile library collection is less (below 750), the mobile libraries identify the school children as their target reader group (54.54%), the majority use a vehicle (a cab) of the governing institutions to transport the books and offer the service (54.54%). The study also revealed that none of the libraries offers this service to people in hospitals and prisons and the vehicles allotted for the mobile libraries lack the necessary facilities. Increasing the financial support, number of books collection, awareness program, improving the facilities in the mode of transportation, etc. can be pointed out as recommendations.