The Open University Of Sri Lanka Library

The OUSL Library was originally started by combining two library collections donated from External Services Agency (ESA) of the University of Colombo and the Sri Lanka Institute of Distance Education (SLIDE) in 1980. In 1995 a new library building was completed, and the new library was shifted to the new premises where it is housed at present.

The OUSL library from its inception planned to be a regionally distributed library system. At the beginning the public libraries were used as to provide study facility for the remote learners of OUSL. Also, the National Library Services Board (NLSB) had agreed to act as the coordinator to liaison with public libraries to provide reading facilities to the distance learners scattered over the country.

The cornerstone of this vision was laid in 1983 with the establishment of the Colombo Regional Centre Library. Initially housed in a building of the Sri Lanka Technical College - Colombo 10, where the science faculty was first located. During the same year a specialized law collection was developed, with the collection of law reports donated by a prominent lawyer.

In 1982, with UNESCO’s support, the OUSL experts initiated the first Audio Visual Unit with a collection of 558 slides. Also, some courses were prepared in cassette format to be delivered to the regional and other study centers.