Introduction: Five laws of Library Science are called the set of norms, percepts, and guides to good practice in librarianship. Dr Shiyali...
Introduction:
Five laws of Library Science are called the set of norms, percepts, and guides to good practice in librarianship. Dr Shiyali Ramamrita Rangnathan formulated in 1928, the five laws of Library Science.
Five laws of library science:
The laws of Library Science are as follows:
1. Books are for use
2. Every reader his or her book
3. Every book its reader
4. Save the time of the reader
5. The library is a growing organism
These laws are now discussed:
1. Books are for use: Recognition of this law helps in removing the restriction on the use of the book. The first law is to be achieved through the
following factors:
1.(a) Services, usages and accessibility:
The greatness of a library is determined by its
services, usages and accessibility. The large library should open their door to
the readers on holidays for sometimes.
1(b) Publicity:
The librarian should give fair publicity and should
inform his/her clientele about new materials. Latest arrival should be
displayed.
1(c) Building:
The library building should be attracting. The exterior should be inviting and interior should be well organized and decorated such a
way so that it could fascinate the readers or users.
d) Equipment:
The library equipment should be neat and attractive. The bookracks should not so high. Chairs and tables of the reading room should be suitable for continuous reading.
2. Every reader his or her books:
The service library should amplify the user's demand
and enhance the utility of book usages. The librarian should extend the book
usages through superfluous books. The second law is achieved by the following
factors:
2(a) Book for all:
The book should be for every type of readers
irrespectively of age, sex, race, caste, religion etc.
2(b) Book selection:
Book selection should be equally for normal people and
physical handicapped. Book has also to take care for neo-literate.
2(c) Inter-Library loan:
The entire book resources of a country can be made available through the inter-library co-operation.
3. Every Books Its Reader
The third law ‘Every book its reader’ points out that ultimately the book is meant for reader and not for filing stack room. The third law is to be achieved by the following factors:
3(a) Proper cataloguing:
Proper cataloguing can also help in the use of
books. A classified catalogue with analytical entries help the reader find out
proper books.
3(b) Book selection:
Book selection should be for all users. Books which
not likely to be demanded by readers should not be selected for procurement.
4. Save the time of the readers:
The methods of classification, cataloguing,
issuing of books, proper shelving of books etc, all play an important role in
saving the time of the readers. This law is to be achieved by the following
factors:
4(a) Classification:
Books should be classified as quickly as possible
after accessioning so that books go to the shelves without any time lag.
4(b) Cataloguing:
A classified catalogue will be found more useful
than a dictionary catalogue, practically in special and academic libraries. But
dictionary catalogue is more useful in the public library.
4(c) Charging methods:
The librarian should avoid waste of reader’s time in charging
or discharging counter. Newark or Brown method can be widely used in the
libraries.
4(d) Shelving: To find
out necessary book easily and together, librarian should shelving books in a
systematic way.
4(e) Open access:
Open access saves not only the time of the reader
but also saves librarians also a lot of work.
5. The library is a growing organism: The growth is of three kinds and they are as
follows:
a) Growth in the size
b) Growth in the number of readers
c) Growth in the staff
5(a) Growth in the size:
Every library grows rapidly in size with the
acquisition of new materials. Effort should, therefore, be made to control the
unlimited growth in size by continuously weeding out old and no longer wanted
books.
5(b) Growth in the number of the reader:
The growth in the number of readers shows how popular
is the library and how well it is serving its clientele. Growth in membership
does not depend merely on the numbers of books available in the library but
chiefly on the services offered by the library.
5(c) Growth in staff:
With the growth in size and growth in membership, there has to be a corresponding growth in the staff.
Conclusion:
The librarian who would like to flourish his career
and to be a successful librarian must keep the five laws of library Science in
his mind. And the librarian who wants to maintain his library service must have
to apply these in his/her library. These five laws may be considered as the
main motto of library science as Dr.S.R Ranganathan said.
See Related Videos :
