News

Tribute to Mrs. Rohini Pararajasingam – Former Librarian, University of Jaffna

Mrs. Rohini Pararajasingam
BSc Hons (Zoology)(Madras), PG Dip. (Librarianship) (Peradeniya), MSc (LIS) (Madras)

Former Librarian (01.03.1995 – 30.09.2005), University of Jaffna

With profound sadness we announce the passing of Mrs. Rohini Pararajasingam, Retired Former Librarian of the University of Jaffna at the age of 82 on 27.04.2022 in Point Pedro, Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

She was born in Point Pedro, Sri Lanka and studied at the J/Methodist Girls High School. Then, started her distinguished career with a BSc Honours Degree in Zoology from the University of Madras (India) in 1961. Later she followed the Postgraduate Diploma in Librarianship at the University of Peradeniya (Sri Lanka) during the period of 1964 to 1965, and completed her Master of Library and Information Science at the University of Madras (India) in 1983, where she secured ‘Outstanding’ grade in the Master’s degree examination for her abilities and dedicated work during her studentship.

She joined the University of Jaffna as an Assistant Librarian in 1978, climbed the ladders with colours and dedicated service, and promoted as Librarian of the University of Jaffna in March 1995, after serving in the capacity of Acting Librarian for 10 months. She served as Librarian (1995-2005) during the times of Jaffna Peninsula was witnessing several challenges due to the conflict. She was able to save valuable collections of the Library from possible damage and destruction in a very difficult civil situation ignoring considerable risk to her personal life. This proves her commitment to the Library. Due to her total commitment to the Library, she did not utilize her sabbatical leave at all.

As an able academic administrator, she managed the Library with the handful of staff during the most challenging period in the Northern Sri Lanka. The construction work of the Library building started in 1980 was completed in 2001 during her tenure, which was a great achievement at that time. Besides, Library automation project initiated in 2003 is one of the landmarks of her visionary service to the university. With regard to professional development, she was instrumental in commencing the Postgraduate Diploma in Library and Information Science course in 2005 at the Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Jaffna.

In order to develop professional competencies among the library professionals in the region, her involvement in the recommencement of Diploma in Library and Information Science course of the Sri Lanka Library Association in Jaffna in 2002 is remarkable. Considering her valuable contribution to the profession, Sri Lanka Library Association honoured her by awarding the ‘Fellowship’.

She also published monographs on cataloguing, indexing and library management, and an annotated bibliography on library education. She served as a resource person at several seminars and conferences related to library science.

She retired in 2005, after serving the university for 27 long years in several capacities in our library. Even after retirement, she continued to contribute towards the development of the library profession by delivering lectures for library information science courses until 2015.

Her remarkable contribution to the upliftment of the Library, University of Jaffna during the most challenging period in the region will be remembered forever. The Library expresses deep sadness and sorrow on her demise and conveys deep gratitude to the bereaved family.

May the departed soul rest in peace.