One of the most significant contributions to the field of library and information science is Dr. S.R. Ranganathan's Five Laws of Library Science. First formally presented in December 1928 and published in book form in 1931, these laws provided a scientific and philosophical foundation for all library practices. Ranganathan sought to move librarianship beyond mere "rules of thumb" by establishing a set of normative principles from which all library activities could be deduced.
These laws are simple statements, but they demand contemplation and experience to reveal their full meaning and importance. They serve as a paradigm for how libraries function, grow, and serve their communities, providing a fundamental framework for the profession.
The Five Laws of Library Science
Ranganathan formulated his Five Laws as follows:
- Books are for Use
- Every Reader His/Her Book
- Every Book Its Reader
- Save the Time of the Reader
- The Library is a Growing Organism
In the modern context, "books" and "readers" are interpreted more broadly to mean "documents/information" and "users," respectively, to suit the changing information world.
1. First Law: Books are for Use
This law is a simple but revolutionary statement that marks a fundamental shift from the historical emphasis on preservation to one of utilization. In medieval times, libraries were often "chained libraries," where books were literally attached to shelves to ensure their security, making preservation the primary goal. The first law asserts that the main purpose of a library's collection is to be put to maximum use by its clientele.
Implications of the First Law:
- Library Location: To promote use, a library should be located in an accessible, central place that is also quiet and free from disturbances.
- Working Hours: The library's hours of operation should be convenient for the majority of its users, keeping it open when they are not engaged in other activities.
- Library Building and Furniture: The building should be functional and aesthetically appealing, with comfortable and attractive furniture that invites users to frequent the library. The law implies the need for an open-shelf system where users can directly access the collection.
- Staff: Library staff are crucial for fulfilling this law. They must be professionally qualified, but more importantly, they should be courteous, cheerful, and helpful. The motto should be "service with a smile," as an unhelpful attitude can permanently turn a potential user away. The credibility and knowledge of the staff are crucial factors in promoting the use of books.
2. Second Law: Every Reader His/Her Book
This law, with its variant "books for all," champions the universalization and democratization of library services. It moves away from the historical practice of restricting access to a privileged few and asserts that every citizen has a basic right to access knowledge and information.
Implications of the Second Law:
- Obligation of the State: The state has an obligation to establish a comprehensive library system through legislation, ensuring adequate financial support to serve all categories of people, including students, teachers, and the general public.
- Obligation of the Library Authority:
- Book Selection: Since no library can acquire all books, it must judiciously select materials based on a systematic understanding of its users' requirements. Acquiring a book with no potential demand is a violation of this law.
- Staff: The library must employ adequate and competent staff to actively help every reader find the books they need. Reference service is a critical function in fulfilling this law.
- Obligation of the Reader: Readers have a responsibility to adhere to library rules, such as returning books on time, so as not to deprive others of their use. Mutilating or stealing books is a gross violation of this law.
- Resource Sharing: The law recognizes that no single library can be self-sufficient and therefore envisions the need for resource-sharing networks among libraries to satisfy all user demands.
3. Third Law: Every Book Its Reader
This law is book-oriented, asserting that every document in a library must find its appropriate user. It implies that a library's investment in its collection is wasted if books sit unused on the shelves. The librarian's duty is to proactively connect resources with the people who need them most.
Implications of the Third Law:
- Open Access: This is the most significant implication. An open access system allows readers to browse the shelves and discover books they were not previously aware of, thereby increasing the chances that every book will find its reader. This requires diligent shelf-rectification (keeping books in their correct order) and the use of helpful guides.
- A Well-Designed Catalogue: The catalogue must be designed with effective cross-references and added entries to meet the different approaches of readers in their search for information.
- Promotional Activities: The library must be proactive in its outreach. This includes displaying newly added books, distributing lists of new acquisitions, and organizing exhibitions on topical themes to attract potential users.
- Reference Service: Personal assistance from library staff is essential to connect every book with its potential reader.
4. Fourth Law: Save the Time of the Reader
This law emphasizes efficiency and user satisfaction. It recognizes that library users are often busy people and that their intellectual interest may be momentary; if not satisfied quickly, it may vanish. A frustrated user signifies a failure of the library's responsibility.
Implications of the Fourth Law:
- Open Access: An open access system saves a significant amount of the reader's time compared to a closed system, where users must consult a catalogue and then wait for staff to retrieve books in a potentially lengthy "trial and error" process.
- Efficient Arrangement: A well-organized and properly classified collection allows users to find what they need quickly.
- Effective Catalogue: A catalogue that meets the various approaches of readers is a major time-saving tool.
- Modern Circulation Systems: The law advocates for simplified and fast charging systems (issue and return processes), such as those using barcodes or RFID technology, to reduce the time users spend at the circulation desk.
5. Fifth Law: Library is a Growing Organism
The final law states that a library is not a static institution but a dynamic and growing entity. This growth occurs in three main areas: the collection (books), the readers, and the staff. Ranganathan distinguished between two types of growth: "child growth," which is a fast and visible increase in physical size, and "adult growth," which is more of an internal, qualitative change, like the replacement of cells.
Implications of the Fifth Law:
- Planning for Growth: This law mandates foresight and planning from the very beginning of a library's establishment to ensure its growth is not inhibited.
- Building and Space: The library building must be planned with provisions for future expansion, both horizontally and vertically. Growth in the collection requires more space for stacks, and growth in readers requires more reading space.
- Weeding the Collection: The growth of the book stock implies that older, obsolete, and less-used books must be periodically weeded out to make room for new and relevant ones. This is part of the "adult growth" of the library.
- Staff Growth: As the library grows, the number of staff must increase to handle the larger collection and user base. Furthermore, the skills of the staff must be constantly updated to meet changing demands.
- Adaptable Systems: The classification schemes and catalogue systems must be hospitable to new subjects and allow for the easy interpolation of new entries to accommodate the growing universe of knowledge.
New Insights and Wider Interpretations in the Digital Age
While formulated in the context of traditional libraries, Ranganathan's laws have proven remarkably durable and are widely considered relevant in the modern information environment of the Internet, World Wide Web, and digital libraries. Scholars have reinterpreted and extended the laws to fit new contexts.
- Sixth Law (James Retting, 1992): "Every reader his freedom," suggesting that users should have the freedom to choose how they get information, whether through instruction or direct provision.
- Gorman's "Five New Laws of Librarianship" (1995): Michael Gorman proposed a separate set of laws for the technological society:
- Libraries serve humanity.
- Respect all forms by which knowledge is communicated.
- Use technology intelligently to enhance service.
- Protect free access to knowledge.
- Honour the past and create the future.
- Application to Open Source Software (Mentor Cana, 2003): The laws have been applied to software, where "software is for use" and "every user his/her software".
- Application to the Web (Alireza Noruzi, 2004): Noruzi reinterpreted the laws for the World Wide Web, demonstrating their applicability to modern information systems:
- Web resources are for use: Information on the web serves no purpose if it is not utilized. This law admonishes password-protected systems or fees that restrict access.
- Every user his/her Web resource: Every person has a right to information on the web, regardless of social status or location. Webmasters and search engines should work to meet these needs.
- Every Web resource its user: Webmasters should add content with specific user needs in mind and ensure that users can find it easily.
- Save the time of the user: This law demands efficient website design, fast servers, and effective search and navigation tools to help users find what they are looking for quickly and accurately.
- The Web is a growing organism: The Web is constantly growing and changing. This requires flexibility and continuous updating of skills and systems to manage the dynamic environment.