Abstract
The National Library of Medicine classification system is a library classification system which covers the field of medicine and preclinical sciences. It is recognized as a standard classification system which can be used in Health and Medical libraries all over the world. Since it is specially designed for the field of health sciences, most of the health libraries in other countries have adopted it for classifying books. However, not many Sri Lankan Health and Medical libraries have adopted this system yet. The present study examined the prevailing situation of NLMC regarding the usage and awareness, factors affecting the usage, training/ education received by Health librarians on National Library of Medicine classification, and problems faced in implementing it. Objective of this study was to investigate the level of usage of National Library of Medicine classification among Sri Lankan Health and Medical libraries and to find out the factors associated in adopting it. Also, it was aimed to find out the present classification system/s and possibilities for future alterations. The participants of this study were all the Librarians in-charge of Health and Medical Libraries in Sri Lanka who are the members of the HELLIS Network, Sri Lanka. A descriptive survey was conducted for data collection. As data collection instruments, questionnaire and interviews were used after relevant literature review. The study revealed that a majority of Sri Lankan Health and Medical libraries do not use NLMC for classification purposes. It was also found that National Library of Medicine classification is not popular among health and medical librarians in Sri Lanka due to unawareness, lack of training, influence of the mother institute, lack of policy etc. This study suggests that Library and Information Science education system in Sri Lanka has to pay attention towards adopting this classification and Sri Lankan Health and Medical librarians should have training or awareness programs on National Library of Medicine classification in order to introduce this system to Health and Medical libraries.
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