Department of Census and Statistics launches digital library

University and school students, researchers, statistical officers and public are now able to view rare and important documents published by the Department of Census and Statistics ( DCS) for free through the department’s recently launched digital repository and online library.

Users can download digital copies of census reports, newspaper articles, surveys and other statistical documents at www.library.statistics.gov.lk by clicking the digital library section.

Chief Librarian, DCS, K G S Gunathilake told the Education Times, that the e- repository was established to provide global access to scholarly research done by the Department. The project was initiated with technical support from the Open University of Sri Lanka and in collaboration with the National Science Foundation.

"Now the public has access to over 400 important documents published by the department including the ‘Census of the Island of Ceylon 1871 General Report.’ the first ever census conducted in Asia. There are 227 census reports, 11 newspaper articles, 63 other publications, 5 staff publications and 78 surveys. We are still in the process of uploading more documents. Some statistics reports date from 1971," Mr Gunathilake said.

Mr Gunathilake said they planned to upload international books, important for researchers, in e-book form.

Statistics, survey methodology, national accounts, inflation and price, MDG indicators, population, education, health, income and expenditure, poverty, agriculture, labour force, industry, trade, sampling, demography, geography, computer technology, census histories, and international census data are some core subjects of the DCS library, one of the main libraries of statistics in the country.

The digital repository and online library catalogue was launched by State Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, Dr. Harsha De Silva. (NF)