Vision

- To be the centre of excellence in the process of teaching, learning and research in the field of Ayurveda Medicine and to support the realization of the faculty

vision and mission -

 

 

Introduction

 

The library of the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, was founded in 1929, the same year that the Ayurveda College was inaugurated. The Institute of Indigenous Medicine has converted into the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo with effect from 01.03.2023. The faculty of Indigenous Medicine library has a comprehensive collection of books more than 37,000 in Ayurveda, Unani, Traditional and other medical systems. In addition, there are three special collections of Ola Leaf Manuscripts, Hand-written Manuscripts and Medicinal Plants It consists of Permanent Reference Section, Reference Section, Lending Section, Periodicals Section, Ola Leaf Manuscripts Section, Archival Section, Photo-coping Section and the Bindery. The seating capacity of the library is 200. The library expanded its services to meet the information requirements of Undergraduate, Postgraduate students, Academic and Non-academic staff. This is one of the member libraries of the Health Literature Libraries and Information Services Network (HeLLIS) and Sri Lanka Scientific & Technological Information Network (SLSTINET). To accomplish the tasks and duties of the Indigenous Medicine library, the library has consisted of two Academic Staff members, five Library Information Assistants, two Library Attendants and one Work Aids.

 

History

 

The Faculty of Indigenous Medicine is the premier higher educational institute in Sri Lanka, which is acclaimed as the centre of excellence in Ayurveda and indigenous medicine. The institute was inaugurated in 1929 as the College of Ayurveda, in the Bauer building, Cotta Road, Borella. In 1977, the college was affiliated with the University of Colombo and renamed as the Institute of Indigenous Medicine, converted into the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo with effect from 01.03.2023. This institute is one of the oldest indigenous medical institutions and leading institutions of higher medical learning in Sri Lanka. The Institute provides five-year degree courses named Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (B.A.M.S.) and Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery (B.U.M.S.). After the establishment of the Postgraduate Section in 1993, they offered M. Phil. (Ayu), M. Phil. (Unani), and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degrees. The library was founded in the same year that the Ayurvedic College was inaugurated. The library has a good collection of books on Ayurveda, Unani, Western, and Indigenous medicine in various languages. In addition to the Sinhala and English languages, books on ayurveda in Sanskrit, and books on Unani in Urdu are among them.

 

Collections

  •  Lending Collection:

 The lending collection is housed in the lending section of the library. Lending books are loaned for two weeks. This collection is kept open during the whole week till 7.00 p.m. and Sundays till 5.00 p.m.

 

  • Reference Collection

Reference Collection storied in the Reference section is made of important textbooks recommended by the teaching faculty and essential reading materials, which are limited in number. This collection consists of books dedicated for general reference purposes and can be easily identified by the R label on the spine. Reference books are issued from 3.00 p.m. for overnight and weekend use. The Borrowed materials from the reference section should be returned to the library by 10.00 a.m. on the following working day.

 

  • Permanent Reference Collection

This comprehensive collection comprises quick reference materials such as Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Yearbooks, Handbooks, Glossaries, Almanacs etc. and important textbooks of ready reference nature, with a bias on subject specialization of Ayurveda, Unani and Indigenous Medicine. These materials are reserved strictly for reference purposes within the library premises. They can be identified by the PR label on the spine of the books. Materials in Permanent Reference Collection are not lent to anyone under any circumstances. They are released only to take photocopies, by keeping the user’s Identification card at the main counter.

 

  • Periodical Collection

This collection is housed in the Periodical section on the right side of the library and facing the Main Counter. Academic journals, conference proceedings, research reports, past papers, commission reports, acts, and various government and non-government publications are part of this collection. Back issues of the periodicals for each year are also bound as a separate cumulate volume and accessible as books. Photocopies of important articles can be obtained in the photocopying section.

 

  • Ola Leaf Manuscripts Collection

The collection of Ola Leaf Manuscripts is housed in a separate section of Ola Leaf Manuscripts. The users in any category are entitled to refer to this invaluable collection by getting permission from the relevant head of the department and the librarian. The Ola Leaf Collection consists of more than 530 Ola Leaf manuscripts arranged in glass-fronted cupboards in a closed-access manner. A separate database has been prepared in respect of Ola leaf manuscripts for the convenience of readers.

 

  • Theses Collection

This collection consists of theses and dissertations submitted for MPhil, MSc., MLS, MD, and PhD degrees by the academic staff members of the faculty of Indigenous Medicine and also postgraduate students. This collection is kept in a closed-access system and used only within the Archival section. Please note that photo–taking and scanning these using personal devices are strictly prohibited. This service is provided mainly for the members of the academic staff, postgraduate students and researchers.

 

  • Archival Collection

Most of the items in the Archival collection are extremely rare reading materials and they have to be handled with utmost care with the permission of the library authorities. This collection comprises a collection of materials of preservation value, viz. Hand-written manuscripts and Rare Books, etc. Hand-written manuscripts, which were written by traditional medical practitioners and rich in national heritage in Sri Lanka, were also treated as a primary source of information