ILIS

• Five Laws of Library Science proposed by S. R. Ranganathan in 1931 detail the principles of operating a library system
• These laws are considered the set of norms, percepts, and guides to good practice in librarianship
• Many librarians worldwide accept these laws as the foundations of their philosophy
• Dr. S.R. Ranganathan conceived the Five Laws of Library Science in 1924
• The statements embodying these laws were formulated in 1928
• The Five Laws of Library Science were first published in Ranganathan's classic book entitled Five Laws of Library Science in 1931
• The Five Laws of Library Science are:

  1. Books Are For Use

  2. Every Reader His/Her Book

  3. Every Book Its Reader

  4. Save The Time Of The Reader

  5. The Library Is A Growing Organism
• These laws are the "fundamental laws" of Library Science and are applicable to any problem in the areas of library science, library service, and library practice
• The First Law "Books are for use" emphasizes the use of books rather than storage
• Implications of the First Law include:

  • Open Access
  • Location
  • Library Hours
  • Library Building and Furniture
  • Book Selection Policy
  • Library Techniques
  • Publicity
  • Library Staff
  • Reference Service
• The Second Law "Every Reader His/Her Book" stresses the democratization of the library where every reader has the equal right to get the book of his/her interest
• Obligations of the State, Library Authority, Library Staff, and Readers are outlined under the Second Law
• The Third Law "Every Book Its Reader" prescribes that every book in a library must find its reader
• Implications of the Third Law include:

  • Open Access
  • Book Selection
  • Shelf Arrangement
• Books should be arranged according to the degree of mutual relationship to increase the probability of attracting readers
• Books within easy reach of readers are most frequently used
• Shelves should not be higher than 6.5 ft for easy accessibility
• Proper cataloging of books is important for attracting readers
• Series entry and cross-reference entries are useful in drawing the attention of readers
• Analytical entries increase the chance of a composite book getting its reader
• Reference librarians should act as canvassing agents for each book
• Publicity is a powerful tool to attract readers to the library
• Extension services like exhibitions and cultural events attract readers to the library
• The Fourth Law of library science is "Save the Time of the Reader"
• Library users are assumed to be busy, so it's essential to provide efficient service to save their time
• Centralizing the library collection in one location is recommended for efficient management
• Library staff should possess strong technical skills in cataloging, cross-referencing, and circulation of materials
• Open access saves time for readers by allowing them to search for books themselves
• The location of the library should be centrally located for convenient accessibility
• Proper classification schemes and shelf arrangement are essential to save time for readers
• Regular shelf rectification is important to maintain an organized library
• Stack-room guides should be provided for efficient navigation in the library
• Efficient techniques for issuing and returning books save time for readers
• Reference services establish a connection between books and readers, saving the reader's time
• Documentation services help in saving readers' time during literature searches
• Cooperative library staff help readers find documents efficiently
• The Fifth Law of library science is "The Library is a Growing Organism"
• A library should continually change and update its books, methods, and physical space over time
• The collection should grow in all subject areas to meet the needs of all readers
• Obsolete books should be weeded out to make space for new additions