Paradigms of Reader Services: A Comparative Analysis of Library Systems in Western Countries and Sri Lanka
Paradigms of Reader Services: A Comparative Analysis of Library Systems in Western Countries and Sri Lanka By:- Thiyananthan Thibakar The modern library serves as a fundamental barometer for education, knowledge dissemination, and societal progress. The evolution of the library, particularly in the realm of reader services, reflects a transition from a networked and automated environment to a digital institution where computers facilitate the processing, storage, retrieval, and distribution of information. 1 Reader services, often defined as the intersection of library activities and user needs, encompass a spectrum of offerings ranging from traditional circulation and reference to contemporary digital literacy training and makerspace engagement. 1 While the primary function remains the provision of access to information, the methods and tools employed have undergone a radical transformation, particularly when comparing the established infrastructures of Western nations with the de...