Abstract:
This study is based on a research carried out on the Human Resource Management (HRM)
in University Libraries in Sri Lanka (ULSL). It explores the problems encountered by the
librarians in managing their human resources in ULSL. The objectives of the study are
to identify the major problems of HRM, to gain a best picture about these problems, to
rank these problems on the order of priority influence to lower influence for libraries, to
study what are the additional HRM problems indicated by the librarians and to explore the
possible alternative solutions for these problems.
The method used for this study was the descriptive research method. Survey technique
was used in order to collect data. The population of the study was the librarians in ULSL.
Primary data was collected circulating a structured questionnaire among the librarians and
they were asked to rank the ten major HRM problems defined by the researcher. The other
1-IRM problems stated by the university librarians are the policy of the Government,. lack
of personal interest of library professionals, lack of professional mutual cooperation and
individual interests, lack of opportunities to motivate and reward dedicated officers and lack
of opportunities to share experiences with other colleagues especially in overseas libraries.
To resolve these HRM problems, a suggestion is made to introduce sound HRM policy for
the ULSL. Other suggestions are the introduction of staff training and development policy
along with different types of best fit (qualitative) and higher number (quantitative) of
training and development programmes, proper motivational procedures and programmes,
and the development of competencies among library professionals. Within this context,
the concerned stakeholders will have to design and implement the library policies and
programmes in the future.
