25th digital library for Sri Lanka now open to the public

The 25th digital library was officially launched at the Kirimetiyana Public Library in Wennappuwa recently, in commemoration of National Reading Month.

The Sri Lanka Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) proposed the Digital Libraries Project in collaboration with the National Library and Documentation Services Board of Sri Lanka.

The digital public library is now open to the public under the Digital Libraries Project. Interested people can now experience the library services with technological advancements, around the island.

The development aspects include the access to electronic materials via modern digital platform, customised integrated library management system to manage functions and workflows within the library and tablets with access to e-newspapers and e-journals etc.

“The objective of the National Digital Government Transformation Strategy is to provide technology-based solutions to provide convenient and efficient government services to Sri Lankans,” Sri Lanka Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) Chief Digital Government Officer Kanchana Tudugala said.

National Library and Documentation Services Board, ICTA and public library staff graced the event.

Accordingly one digital library in each District have been established to provide convenient and affordable access to electronic information e-books and educational materials.

The required digital infrastructure, equipment and capacity development have been provided by ICTA to strengthen the electronic archive records systems and introduce modern digital infrastructure.

As a result, convenient and affordable access to electronic resources e-books and educational materials can be accessed by citizens and other libraries in the island have also been connected.

‘Koha’ is a highly used open source library management system in the world and has provisions for library operations. The software has been employed in a digitised library system.