A study on current status and reading habits of children at the child protection centers in Central province in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The study sought to assess the reading habits among children and their library facilities available for them at their child protection center. The study was conducted in Central Province in Sri Lanka. A questionnaire survey was used for the data collection and the data were analysed with the descriptive analysing methods. There are 35 child homes which are run by voluntary organizations under the supervision of the Department of Probation and Child Care Services in Central province, Sri Lanka. Whole population was treated as sample. Objectives of this study was to identify the existing library facilities at the child home, to propose the children how to use library and inculcate reading habit and to assist the managers of the child home to develop the library collection with supporting of government and other agencies. According to the results, 80 percent of the libraries have no permanently allocated area as a library. There were 20 to 2000 books available for the readers. 77 percent of the centers have no internet facilities where as rest have internet facilities but very limited access to utilize the services. 41 percent of the child protection centers always allows readers to utilize the library facilities. The main purpose of using the library facilities were to find information for their assignments, lending and to read subject materials. There are no trained person to manage the resources in the libraries therefore this study recommends to enhance the library resources with a good management to enrich the reading habits among the children’s at child protection centers.