The origin and expansion of library science

By Husna Inayathullah

Senior Prof. Piyadasa Ranasinghe is the Director, Research Centre for Social Sciences (RCSS) at the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya. He was born and bred in Thabbowa, Puttalam. Starting his career as a Sinhala Lecturer at the University of Kelaniya and contributing greatly for Library Science in Sri Lanka today he is the President of the Sri Lanka Library Association. In an interview with Sunday Observer Prof. Ranasinghe speaks about the history, scope, his life and contribution to Library Science in Sri Lanka.

Excerpts

Question: What is Library Science?

Answer: Library Science is the methodology or art of organisation, preservation and dissemination of human knowledge for the benefit of the people.

It is said that the writing system in the world began around 5,000 years ago in the Middle East, Euphrates- Tigris civilisation. Since the beginning of the writing system on clay tablets people started to write. It was the easiest material available at that time.

At the time there were clay tablet libraries. King Asurbanipal had his royal library with 1,000 of clay tablets. Some of them are are preserved in the British Museum now.

Humans are different from other creatures. They have a long lasting memory and we like to pass our knowledge to the future generation. This desire to pass down the experience to others urged him to write and writing was preserved for the future generation.

To collect, preserve, organise and finally disseminate the ideas contained in books or manuscripts it was necessary to build institutions. They are called libraries. At the beginning libraries were at royal palaces. They were called royal libraries. The literate were among the higher class and clergy. The librarians or caretakers were educated people, most probably the clergy. They had a close relation with the higher class.

History

Q: Can you say something about the history of library science in the world and Sri Lanka.

A: The history of library is very fascinating. After the destruction of Middle East civilisation, came the Alexandria Library, the greatest in the ancient world. The medium of writing changed by that time from clay tablets to papyrus which is abundantly found in the banks of the River Nile.

Most of the classical books as well as the entire knowledge found in the Middle East were found there. One of the librarian there was Calimarcus, a poet and a scholar. People never stopped writing. People had been constantly writing.

As a result, all over the world there were manuscripts.

During the medieval period there were a number of monastic libraries throughout Europe. The books were chained but they were for use. Preservation was considered more important than dissemination of knowledge. The literacy rate was very poor.

The monastic libraries became the centre of universities such as the Bodleian Library at the Oxford University. Gradually with the advances of literacy especially after the Industrial Revolution in the Western world, the production of books began to increase. A printing press was introduced in the 15th century by Johannes Gutenberg. There was a mass production in books after the introduction of the printing press. As a result more and more libraries came into being.

Democracy was taking root. There arose a need for the people to be educated in a democratic society. As a result, libraries became very important social institutions. Indeed in almost all democratic countries in the world libraries play a major role in educating people.

At schools and universities you can have education for a certain period but libraries offer a lifelong education system. Public libraries make you a lifelong learner. Irrespective of race, ethnicity, colour and age you can be a user of the public library.

Libraries will never die though the physical appearance may change. The art or science dealing with it is called the library science. The information was added to it later. During the olden days it was called Library Economy.

In the East there is a big library tradition. Most of the royal libraries were in India, China and Korea.

Q: How many libraries are functioning in the country?

A: In Sri Lanka, the library system started during the early Anuradhapura period. They were monastic libraries. The first library in Sri Lanka was at Mahavihara in Anuradhapura. The world famous Buddhist commentator Buddhaghosha wrote his books in that library.

A library system began to develop in temples. The temple libraries are known as Poth Gula. The biggest library is found at Hanguranketha today. There are more than 2,000 palm leaf books there. Sri Lanka has a vast number of palm leaf books scattered everywhere written on various subjects such as Buddhism, arts, crafts and medicine.

The books contain the whole intellectual output of the country during the past. To protect and put them into use, the temple libraries were established but however the system collapsed with the foreign invasion after the 16th century.

The system was neglected and the libraries were abandoned. Somehow during the British period when many expatriates were here, they needed books to read. Therefore in the early 19th century a library movement came into being. They were called subscription libraries.

In all major towns there were subscription libraries. Later on the government also supported them. That was the beginning of the Public Library movement in Sri Lanka. Later it became a powerful social institution. Libraries were introduced to schools.

They were introduced at Research Institutes such as tea, coconut and rubber. The libraries are still functioning today.

After the Independence and with the introduction of Sinhala and Tamil as official languages, there arose a need for books. Therefore, libraries became essential components of social life especially among the educated people.

India too had a good library system but our public library system is better than theirs. In Sri Lanka even in remote areas there are public libraries apart from school libraries.

A guru called S.R. Ranganathan, known as the father of oriental library science in India made a great contribution for library and information science.

He formulated certain theories and tried to make this subject a real science. He has covered in his writing almost all aspects of Library and Science. His contribution is valid not only in our part of the world but in the western world too.

Q: What do you think about the readership today?

A: Without readers libraries cannot exist and without reading people cannot prosper. I believe that reading is the food for the brain. Sri Lanka had been spending billions of rupees since we got independence for the development programs in the country but without achieving the expected goals.

In Sri Lanka people generally gain knowledge by reading. Although the literacy rate is high in Sri Lanka, Sri Lankans are not good readers when compared to Western countries or Japan. There are historical reasons such as we are a country with a listening culture. We listen and then understand.

Kiyawanawa is a causative word. The Sinhala term connotes that meaning. That is a tradition for a millennium and we are used to that tradition. We venerate books. Pothe Guru is not a good term. It is used to condemn the well educated people. Sunatha Dharetha Charatha is a Pali term which means "Listen, grasp and behave." The habit of reading should be first cultivated in schools.

Q: How many libraries are functioning in the country?

A: There are many libraries in Sri lanka. There are 15 major university libraries, branch libraries, 4,000 school libraries, research institute libraries and many public libraries throughout the country.

Unfortunately we do not make use of them. We must have a system to encourage people to use libraries. It is the responsibility of the librarians.

Q: Are all the librarians conversant with library science?

A: Most of our librarians are educated but as soon as they get into a job they become dissatisfied due to salary and other conditions. Especially in the public sector the salary is not satisfactory. So they are not happy.

Q: Has the demand for the library science increased over the years?

A: There is a huge demand. There are many job opportunities. Many students from the university get job opportunities even before they leave the university. After a short training, they are confirmed. There is a good demand from the private sector as well. Costume apparel industries too have libraries or information centres and they need people to handle it. As a result many students are following this cause.

The library course goes on to Phd level. There are diploma courses as well offered by the University of Kelaniya, Colombo, Sri Lanka Library Association (SLLA) and the National Institute of Library (NILIS).

Nowadays universities and research institutes recruit people with qualifications.

Q: Can you explain briefly the subject areas of library science?

A: We generally teach all the aspects of library science. Librarians are called generalist-specialists. We teach them aspects from all the fields because they need a wide knowledge. Nowadays special attention is also given to ICT literacy. At present information technology is very important.

Q: What is your greatest contribution to library science?

A: My first school was my parents, animals, birds and nature. I love nature very much. I think that I have the ability to communicate with them. I had a fantastic childhood. Nature shapes our life and the power of understanding and grasping things.

I started my career as a Sinhala lecturer at the University of Kelaniya. Later I joined as the editor of the Sinhala Dictionary at the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. I worked under a famous scholar Prof. D.E. Hettiarachchi. It was a golden opportunity for me.

My appointment as an assistant librarian at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura was a turning point in my life.

As I did not have any knowledge on library science, I had to follow a postgraduate course. I grasped it within a short period of time.

I studied many languages such as Pali, Portuguese and Japanese and I was a voracious reader. The library was my place.

In 1996 I was selected as the chief librarian at the newly established University of Rajarata. I built a strong foundation there and in four months I opened it for academic sessions.

In 1980 I began teaching library science at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka Library Association and at the National Library and Documentation Board. I got the idea on the latest development scheme after following a library computerisation course at AIT in Thailand. I got my second degree from the University of South Whales.

On the invitation of Prof. Senaka Bandaranayake in 1988 I joined the university of Kelaniya. I re-organised and developed the department. I became the President of the Sri Lanka Library Association due to my cordial relationship with all the library institutes.

I have worked for all the institutes in Sri Lanka which are dealing with libraries. I started a palm leaf manuscripts study and research centre.

We collect and digitalise various types of manuscripts found in different parts of Sri Lanka. Every weekend we go to temples in remote areas with our crew and we start digitalising the manuscripts. We are going to have a verbal manuscripts centre as well.

Q: Now that you are going to be felicitated, how do you feel about it?

A: It is organised by my students. It will be held on December 2 at the Jayewardene Centre, Colombo. I feel so happy about it.

It is the love and respect that I get from my students and that is what I believe.