Eastern University Library (Batticaloa, Sri Lanka)

Since the establishment of the Eastern University in 1986, there has been only a single library to cater the needs of Four Faculties namely Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Arts & Culture, Faculty of Commerce & Management and Faculty of Science. There was a Branch Library for Faculties of Arts & Culture and Commerce & Management that was established in 1991 in the Batticaloa Town and it had functioned till 1994. Later on it was amalgamated with the Main Library, Vantharumoolai, when these two faculties were shifted from Batticaloa to VantharumoolaiCurrently, total available floor area of the Library is only 11,416 sq.ft. to accommodate all the sections and for all purposes. The Library facilities available at present are considerably less than the requirements in the present situation and further more to synchronize with the fast developing information revolution. It is a fact that the existing Library is a centre that has been built up by restructuring an old building of a secondary school.In view of the foreseen facts, the building of a new Library has to be one of the main priority actions in the building programme of the Eastern University. It is necessary to state that some other disturbances such as flood in 1986 and ethnic disturbances in the years 1983, 1985 and 1990 have also affected, specially the Library development on the whole in the Eastern University.Our Library collection amounts to 60,000 nos. (Average) presently and it is relatively small comparing to the other Universities; however we have very good collection of the latest books and rare collection as well. Every year, the Library acquires about 3500 nos. (Average) books and 205 nos. periodicals (purchased & donations) and other publications such as Hand books and Reports 29 nos. leading to a gradual build up of the collection at a substantial level.