1. Factors Affecting Library Profession and Professional Image of Sri Lankan
Librarians:An Overview
SRELS Journal of Information Management Volume 53,
Issue 3, June 2016
W. A. Weerasooriya *
Affiliations
 Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
DOI: 10.17821/srels/2016/v53i3/64544
Abstract
Image of a profession is a significant area of interest. Substantial amount of literature has
appeared on this subject, both in the West and the East. It is important to study the professional
image of Sri Lankan Librarians in a rapidly changing social, economic, political and ICT
environment. The principal objective of this study is to study the image of Sri Lankan library
professionals. The other objectives are to explore what is professional image, to examine the
mechanism and environmental factors affecting the professional image of Sri Lankan Librarians,
to investigate the mindsets and personal and professional factors affecting the image of Sri
Lankan librarians, to identify the obstacles and hindrances facing Sri Lankan library profession
and professionals and finally to design and present a model for developing image of librarians
and the library profession of Sri Lanka. The study is scrutinized with a proactive approach and it
is not the intention to pass any sarcastic criticism against the profession or professionals.
Keywords
Library Profession, Professional Image, Professionalism, Professionalization, Professional
Status.