මහජන පුස්තකාලවල ප්‍රබන්ධ කෘති එකතුව වර්ගීකරණය පිළිබඳ නිරීක්ෂණාත්මක අධ්‍යයනයක් - An observational study on the classification of fiction collections in public libraries

Almost all public libraries in Sri Lanka use the Dewey Decimal Classification for classifying their collections. The Dewey Decimal Classification is a classification system that is being revised in line with the expansion in various subject areas. This feature is particularly evident in the classification of original and translated fiction works. The primary objective of this study is to conduct an observational study of the methods used in classifying fiction collections in the grade 1 public libraries of the Western Province. The main point revealed is that although librarians have accepted the need to use the latest edition of the Dewey Classification for the classification of fiction collections, the implementation of the changes has been delayed due to various reasons. It was observed that there are many confusions and errors, especially in the classification of translated literature. Since literature is a field that is diversifying rapidly compared to all other subject areas, this updating is essential. If public libraries do not have this up-to-dateness, it will be a violation of reader rights, a violation of Ranganathan's five laws, and a prevention of opportunities for readers to be exposed to the genre, geographical and linguistic diversity of world literature. It was also observed that the use of color codes in classification is not done with a standard. Therefore, it is recommended that public libraries should immediately abandon the old methods and use the latest edition of the Dewey Decimal Classification in classifying fiction works, and if color codes are used, they should do so in a standardized manner. Also, holding workshops to increase the awareness of public library staff on the classification of fiction works and emphasizing the importance of library staff engaging in self-study to develop their knowledge of world literature will lead to an increase in the quality of the classification of fiction works.