A Case Study to Identify Factors Affected the Optimal Utilization of Library at the Naval and Maritime Academy, Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study focuses on investigatingfactors which affect optimal utilization of library facilities by the under-trainees of the Navel and MaritimeAcademy (NMA), Sri Lanka and it proposes suitable recommendations to Commandant of NMA to extend the utilization of library by the under-trainees. This research employed the use of 200 structured questionnaires distributed to 200 under- trainees attached to NMA as the main tool for collecting data. The findings of the study show that the utilization level of NMA library is very low and it also reveals that most of the under-trainees use electronic resources than printed materials. Therefore, the given opportunity to purchase a personal laptop with a dongle to access the internet is directly affected by the utilization of the NMA library. It was noted that the location and opening hours are not compatible with the requirements of the under-trainees. The researcher, therefore, recommends that adequate funding to be made available to the library to ensure the provision of electronic resources whichis essential to improve the utilization of the NMA library as well as to allocate compulsory library hours in the timetable of the under-trainees.