1. Srikanthaluxmy Arulanantham,
B.A (Econ.), B.Sc. LIS, A.D.I.Sc.
Librarian, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
T. Ramanan,
B.Sc. (Agric), MLIS, Dip. HRM & OB.
Senior Assistant Librarian, Eastern University, Sri Lanka.
Social Responsibility and Three-
Dimensional Libraries:
sustaining the information ‘life’ in Sri Lanka

2. Our Existence
• Developing Country
• Globalisation
• Information society
• Era of Electronic Informaton explosion
• Expansion and fragmentation of
knowledge

3. Our Challenges
• War torn society
• Thirst for learning
• Acceleration of social change
• Isolation of individuals
• Poor reading habits
• Limitations in consumption of
information

4. Our Limitations
• Scarcity of library resources
• Incompetency of the library staff
• Low literacy rates of the potential library
users
• Poor reading habit of the users
• Availability of mobile devices
• Cultural and social norms

5. Our Aim
• Freedom of Information
• Social Development
– Emotional
– Cultural
– Livelihood
– Religious
• Educational Development
• Economic Development

6. Our Responsibility
• To increase the utilization of information resources
• To justify their existence in the society
• To re-build the community from the repercussions of the
war and natural disasters
• To perform greater role in bridging the communities and
religious groups
• To offer social communication opportunities and
capabilities for learning
• To play an indispensable role in developing the
economy, education, and cultural heritage
• To function at 360 degree on vertical and horizontal
planes

7. New
ideas
New
Dimensions
New
Skills
New
views
New
Products
New
Projects
Our
Determination

8. 3DL: A new strategy
• 3D library is the new concept consisting of three
important elements in a unique discipline arranged in a
meaningful manner to explore information for self
learning process. It is
• a guide to identify the limits of information search
• an intellectual motivation in the pursuit of information
searching
• a step-stone for sharing of cultural, information in the
region
• expedition into the multimedia information access.

9. An image is worth of 1000
words. Objects usually
invoke new ideas, have an
inquiring mind,improve
their creative
ability/thinking, promote
logical reasoning, could
act as an alternative to
broader exposure to
students to inspire them.
Poor infrastructure to
promote self learning at
family level. Absence of
artifacts in the collections of
school or public library level.
Absence of social institutions
such as museums, art
galleries, exhibitions or
excursions to get exposure at
society level.

10. Substantial
number of school
students were
inculcated by the
evidence based
display.
realia and
artifacts could
act as the most
important
information
resources for
supporting
teaching and
learning
activities
Information
seeking
behaviour of
students was
enhanced
through
evidence
based display
of information.

11. 3DL: Pyramid Concept
Objects and their meanings
(1st
Dimension)
Resources and their formats
(2nd
Dimension)
Information and their standards
(3rd
Dimension)

12. Basic Elements of 3DL
Objects
Objects
Realia Models
objects of archeological
importance, cultural evidence,
sculptures, laboratory
specimens

13. 3DL: Basic Elements
Documents
Documents
Bookform materials Non Book materials Electronic resources

14. 3DL: Basic Elements
Information
• Interviews
• Translations
• Photographs
• Graphs
• Abstracts
• Websites
• Diagrams

15. Experiments
At Public library level

16. Experiments
At School Level

18. Experiments
at University library level

19. 3DL:
at University library level

20. Sustaining the information ‘life’ with 3DL
3DL is significant
• In resolving emotional instability of a society
• Uplifting the country’s education
• Devising new strategies to thrive in the business.
• Increasing the reading habits among the
population of the country
• Sustaining peace process, whilst preserving
regional heritage
• Balancing ‘social equilibrium’ as the society is
encountering ‘polarization’

21. 3DL for the nation
• 3DL service is an innovative and proactive
library practice.
• It could be networked to bring libraries in the
country to share information that value national
development and heritage.
• not only for the nation but it could be expanded
to other developing regions of the world!!!

22. Time for Discussion
Thank you very much
“The journey may be long and difficult
but
the first step has to be made”