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 access to electronic materials via modern digital platforms, a customized 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 has 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 on 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 digitized library system.