Five
Laws of Library Science
·
Dr.
S.R. Ranganathan has conceived five laws of library in the year 1924 and
enunciated in the year 1928 and it came out as a complete printed book in the
year 1931 which was published by Bombay Publishing House.
·
Earlier
Dr. Ranganathan development only four laws that is (2-5) but with the small
hint of Professor E.B. Ross. He formulate the first law that is “Books are for
Use”
Five laws of Library Science are:
·
Books
are for use
·
Every
Reader his/her book
·
Every
book its reader
·
Save
the time of reader
·
Library
is growing organism
1. Books are for
use: Any library becomes great not because of its collection or building size
but the use made by its reader. So, the prime idea for any library is its
utilization. This law is totally based on “how the library can enhance its
utilization or use”.
Implications:
(a) Location of
Library: It should be centralized and convenient for users to come easily.
(b) Library Building
and Furniture: Building and furniture is should be based on the criteria set by
Indian Standard organization and the books should be in easy reach of user.
(c) Library Hours:
Library timing should be more than just a office time. So, that it fulfill the
needs of all.
(d) Library Staff:
Staff should be professional and user friendly and on occasion they should be
able to guide the user about their need.
(e) Book Selection:
Book Selection should be user centric and management should try everything to fulfill
demands of users.
(f) Shelf
Arrangement: Shelf arrangement should be proper and helpful sequence should be
followed while arranging books on shelf
(g) Reference
Service: Guidance is very important for new users. So there should be reference
librarian in library who can guide users.
2. Every Reader
his/her Books: According to this law, every reader of library should have the
books of his choice.
(a) Obligation of
State:
- Library Legislation: Library legislation should favor this and provide appropriate grant and facility for the development of libraries.
- Coordination and Resource Sharing: Coordination with other libraries is important for resource sharing. Resource sharing can help a lot to the libraries.
(b) Obligation of
Library Authority:
- Book Selection: Book Selection should be totally on user focused and according to their demands.
- Choice of Staff: Staff should be understanding and professional enough to deal with the readers.
(c) Obligation of
Library Staff:
- Open Access: Library should make open access for its reader so, that they can select their interest.
- Cataloguing: Catalogue card should be properly placed and accurately made.
- Shelf Arrangement: No books should place here and there when every book has their own place in the library.
- Maintenance: Damaged books should be maintained properly because it can prevent users to use that book.
- Reference Service: Guidance is very important for new users. So there should be reference librarian in library who can guide users.
(d) Obligation of
Reader:
- Rules and Regulations: Library rules and regulation should be followed by its reader.
- Returns of Books should be on time by the users or readers.
3. Every Book its
Reader: Every book in library must find its reader, not a single item should be
lost in a darkness of stacks.
(a) Open Access:
Library should make open access for its reader so, that they can select their
interest.
(b) Book Selection:
Book Selection should be totally on user focused and according to their
demands.
(c) Cataloguing: Catalogue
card should be properly placed and accurately made.
(d) Shelf
Arrangement: No books should place here and there when every book has their own
place in the library.
(e) Reference
Service: Guidance is very important for new users. So there should be reference
librarian in library who can guide users.
(f) Extension
Service: Extension service should be done by library at regular intervals. So,
that no book remains unseen.
4. Save the time of
the reader: A user is supposed to be a busy person, so that his time must be
saved.
(a) Location of
Library: It should be centralized and convenient for users to come easily.
(b) Open Access:
Library should make open access for its reader so, that they can select their
interest.
(c) Classification
and Cataloguing: Classification and Cataloguing
should be done properly otherwise it may consume more time not only of user but
staff also to search for a book.
(d) Shelf
Arrangement : (as we discussed earlier)
(e) Sign System:
there should be sign for every row that help reader to find easily the section
of his choice.
(f) Reference
Service: (as we discussed earlier)
(g) Information Technology:
Computer and Opac should be used in library by which reader can find book of
his interest very quickly.
5. Library is a
growing organism:
(a) Library
Building: Library building should be as flexible as it can handle the further
modification in library.
(b) Choice of
classification and Cataloguing code: the choice of classification and cataloguing
code should be carefully done because it is almost impossible to change it
after the big collection.
(c) Weeding out of
old Document: Old and unused books should be weeded out and new books should
find place for them.
(d) Computerization:
Computerization should be followed in library as it enhances the user experience
and in these days it may build a reputation for libraries.
Resource
Sharing
- Resource Sharing means cooperation between two or more libraries in order to fulfill the requirement of their user.
- It includes sharing materials or function or services between the libraries.
- A material includes both documentary and non-documentary forms.
- Functions cover the activities concerning the acquisition, storage, processing etc.
- Services mean reference, translation and techniques that influence the user to use library.
Types of Library Cooperation
- International Level: UAP (Universal Availability of Publication) and UBC (Universal Bibliographic Control) by IFLA
- National Level: NASSDOC (National Social Science Documentation Centre)
- Cooperative Acquisition: It means that selecting books and purchase them with the collaboration and requirement of coordinating libraries
- Sharing of Printed Card Catalogue
- Prenatal Cataloguing/ Cataloguing in publication (CIP): Dr. S.R. Ranganathan has introduced the word “Prenatal Cataloguing” and Library of Congress has initiated the Programme called Cataloguing in Publication in 1971 with 27 participating publishers. Both the term has same meaning that the book or document should be catalogued at the time of their publication.
- Centralized Classification and Cataloguing is must for the cooperation between libraries
- Cooperative Storage: It means that new arrival books must find proper place in racks of libraries and old books should be weeded out. That can be only possible with the effective cooperation between libraries.
