Sustainable Academic Library Transformation Approach: Hybridizing University Publication Collection of Ruhuna University Library

Abstract

Transformation of academic libraries and its services marked a prevailing necessity at the present days, where almost all the aspects of peoples’ lifestyles are digitally disrupted. Library transformation is a time consuming, serious process that should be conduct with a proper plan. However, the sustainable way of library transformation will add more value to the patrons and the suitable future to the library. Hybridization of library collection is such proactive approach that can initiate at most of the academic library levels. Present study selected university owned copyrighted collection maintained since 1985 as the source of hybridizing. These artifacts were digitized though a cascading process until it reached up to 80,000 pages. Digitization were outsourced under the supervision of library staff. The collection was kept physically at the library shelf while the digitized materials were archived in an online institutional repository (IR). The IR was based on DSpace version 6.3 and customized according to the requirements of the university. Materials in the collection were classified and catalogued into the KOHA integrated library management system, while linking to the IR. Ultimately, a library collection that hidden as gray literature were opened to a vast community though hybridizing. As a result, the collection is now available physically and electronically, accessible from any cloud device, and visible through multiple search interfaces. İt can be recommend all the academic libraries should embark on collection transformation through hybridizing as an initiative to sustainable library transformation