Colombo Public Library

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Colombo Public Library
Colombo Public Library.jpg
Colombo Public Library
Colombo Public Library
6°54′46″N79°51′33″E / 6.912784759371049°N 79.85926055486318°E / 6.912784759371049; 79.85926055486318
Location15, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
Type Public library
Established10 August 1925;99 years ago (1925-08-10) [1]
Branches13 [2]
Collection
Size~ 1 million Books, 57 Newspapers & 111 periodical titles [2]
Access and use
Members2 million (2019)
Other information
BudgetIncrease2.svg Rs 50 million (2020)
DirectorWaruni Gagabadaarachchi
Employees52 (2020)
Parent organization Colombo Municipal Council
Website www.colombo.mc.gov.lk/public-library.php

Colombo Public Library is the largest public library in Sri Lanka, located in Colombo 07, Sri Lanka.

Contents

History

The first public library in the country was the United Service Library, which was established in 1813. It was used exclusively by civil and military officers of the Government stationed in Colombo and was housed in a building opposite the Queen's House, on Janadhipathi Mawatha (formerly Kings Street). In 1829, the Vurghers opened the 'Colombo Pettah Library' in Pettah. On 1 October 1924, E. W. Jayawardena moved a resolution at the Colombo Municipal Council to establish the Colombo Library. The Colonial Secretary, Sir Cecil Clementi, called a meeting of subscribers of both libraries, and they agreed to hand over their books to the new library, which was to be run as a department of the Colombo Council.

The Colombo Library was opened on 10 August 1925 in a mansion, 'Sirinivasa', built by Mudaliyar Simon Fernando Sri Chandrasekera (who bequested the building to the government), on Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha (formerly Edinburgh Crescent). [1] At its formation, the library had three departments, the Reading Room, the Lending Room and the Reference Library. It had approximately 16,000 books, 94 members and seven staff, with S. C. Blok as the first principal librarian. [2] In 1980 the library was relocated to a newly constructed building adjoining Viharamahadevi Park (formerly Victoria Park). [3]

Timeline

Branches

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Colombo Public Library" . Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Public Library Department". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  3. "Beginnings of the Public Library". The Sunday Times . 12 August 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  4. "Colombo Public Library catalog". pl.colombo.mc.gov.lk. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  5. "Colombo Public Library is digitalized". Daily News. Retrieved 2019-05-08.

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