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Chaminda - 
University Librarian

Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

About the job

Main responsibilities

Providing overall leadership to the library and information services of the University; being a senior support services manager of the university; administrating LIS and IL programmes of the University; being an academic leader

Typical day

* Create an inspirational library learning culture as the University transforms to an institution of national prominence.
* Carry out overall supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organisation’s policies and applicable laws.
* Initiate and maintain business relationships with publishers and/or book, software, hardware, or electronic service vendors, both foreign or domestic, to negotiate, update, or cancel license and service agreements, discounts, subscriptions, approval plans, or standing orders; makes subsequent arrangements; follows up to resolve problems.
* Use the tools and standards, internal and external to the library, that provide the basis for responding to queries, coordinating services, organising information, creating new resources or finding aids, or implementing new technologies.
* Play the lead role in creation and maintenance of policies and procedural documentation; and developing, implementing, and interpreting departmental and library policies, procedures, and documentation.
* Take initiative through perception of critical needs and development of solutions; foster similar skills in less experienced staff.
* Provide a safe and secure physical and virtual environment conducive to study and research.
* Supervise the development of collections and the provision of access to appropriate information resources to support the research and teaching mission of the University.
* Oversee the development and management of a technological environment that will meet user needs and support operations in the Libraries.
* Work with University Senate to set policies and plan for future library services and LIS programs.
* Ensure that the Libraries serve the needs of all academic programmes on campuses.

What do I enjoy about my job?

Enhancing knowledge of people; servicing customers; managing people.

Challenging aspects

Policies and accepted procedures; skills of employees; budget.

Why did this area of work appeal to me?

I was born to be a big boss of a leading library anywhere in the world!

Skills/qualifications I use in my job?

All those I gained from my professional qualifications.


Career information

Brief history since leaving University

I started my work from Assistant Librarian post at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1998 and was promoted to the post of first, Senior Assistant Librarian, then Deputy University Librarian, in the same university.
I was appointed as the University Librarian of the Fiji National University in 2012.
I was Programme Co-ordinator of the Master of Information Systems Management, Library and Information Science at the Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Colombo from 2007 to 2012.
I had been working as the Country Coordinator of the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP), UK from 2008 to 2012 and currently I am the Coordinator for Fiji of the EIFL.

Graduated in 1997 with first class honours for Statistics at the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. Completed MSc in Information Management in 2002 at the University of Sheffield, UK and obtained Doctor of Literature and Philosophy in Information Science at Unisa in South Africa in 2010.

Where do I see myself in the future?

I’m currently holding one of the top positions a librarian can achieve!


Advice to students

My piece of advice to students

Students need to show their genuine commitment, integrity, excellent people skills, with subject thoroughness. Exposure and excellence in management, research and consultancies are predominately needed to be a good librarian in a prestigious organisation. Read a lot and practice good readings what you read.

Experimentation is important at early career but not in the final destination - but innovation is important to survive in the career.



Send Chaminda a question about their career.


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Last updated: 23 Oct 2018