Librarian’s Perspective on Library Usage of Teachers: Comparative Study among Rural and Urban Schools

This study explores the perspectives of school librarians on the usage of libraries by teachers in both rural and urban schools. The study aims to shed light on the crucial relationship between school librarians and teachers, investigating the experiences and opportunities faced by librarians in engaging and supporting teachers in utilizing the library effectively. Data was collected through a survey conducted in the Kandy district, focusing on schools with dedicated libraries. A total of 186 completed responses were obtained. The study found that books, periodicals, and newspapers are the most widely available resources in all areas of libraries, with higher percentages in semi-urban areas. Maps, on the other hand, have a higher percentage of availability in urban areas compared to semi-urban and rural areas. The findings indicate that teachers actively use the library for finding information related to teaching, engaging in activities and projects related to teaching, and preparing teaching notes. However, there are differences between rural and urban schools in library use for specific purposes, such as finding information related to classroom teaching, leisure time, activities related to teaching, teachers' entertainment, and preparing teaching notes. Based on the findings, recommendations were made at the end of the study.