Introduction

The Workshop for Public Librarians: Introducing the Senior Citizens’ Curriculum
will be held on 27th September 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m
at the NILIS Auditorium, University of Colombo.
Organized as part of the NILIS Research Symposium 2025 (NRS25),
this event is held free of charge and by invitation only, with participation limited to Public Librarians from the Western Province.

The workshop is conducted as a resource and experience sharing event following
the successful completion of the research study on enhancing
financial, mobile, and information literacy among senior citizens.
It aims to present the outcomes of the project, share best practices,
and encourage replication of the curriculum in other libraries across the country.

Background

In 2024, the National Institute of Library and Information Sciences (NILIS), University of Colombo,
launched a research and development initiative to empower older adults with essential
financial, mobile, and information literacy skills. The project is funded by the
National Science Foundation (NSF) of Sri Lanka.

The Principal Investigator is Professor Ruwan Gamage, with
Dr. Prasanna Ranaweera (Acting Director – NILIS) and
Ms. Varuni Gangabadaarachchi (Chief Librarian, Colombo Public Library) serving as collaborators.
The curriculum was piloted at the Colombo Public Library with trained resource persons and librarians.
Participant feedback indicates improved confidence in using mobile devices and in conducting safe financial transactions.

Photo Highlights from the Pilot at Colombo Public Library

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