Library, Information and Society

SUNDAR B. N. Assistant Professor
Paper I LIBRARY, INFORMATION AND SOCIETY
Karnataka State Open University
2015 August QP Solved
1) What is Library?
The word ‘Library’ is derived from the Latin word “libraria” meaning ‘a book place’. It
originates from the term ‘liber’ which means ‘a book’. According to the Oxford Companion
to the English Language – “Library is a collection of books, periodicals and/or other
materials, primarily written and printed.”
Harrod’s Librarian’s Glossary and Reference Book defines ‘Library’ as:
(1) A collection of books and other literary material kept for reading, study and consultation.
(2) A place, building, room or rooms set apart for the keeping and use of a collection of
books, etc.
(3) A number of books issued by one publisher under a comprehensive title as the ‘Loeb
Classical Library’, and usually having some general characteristic, such as, subject, binding,
or typography.
(4) A collection of films, photographs and other non-book materials, plastic or metal tapes,
disks and programs. Mention the types of academic libraries.
Dr. S. R. Ranganathan, father of library science in India, describes the library as a public
institution or establishment charged with the care of collection of books and the duty of
making them accessible to those who require to use them.
2) Mention two types of Academic Library
A) School Libraries
B) College Libraries
C) University Libraries
3) Expand DESIDOC.
Defence Scientific Information and Documentation Centre (DESIDOC): DESIDOC started
functioning in 1958 as Scientific Information Bureau (SIB). It was a division of the Defence
Science Laboratory (DSL) which is presently called as Laser Science & Technology Centre
(LASTEC). The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) library which had its
beginning in 1948 became a division of Scientific Information Bureau (SIB) in 1959. In 1967
SIB was reorganised with augmented activities and named Defence Scientific Information and
Documentation Centre (DESIDOC). It still continued to function under the administrative
control of Defence Science Laboratory (DSL). Defence Scientific Information and
Documentation Centre (DESIDOC) became a self-accounting unit and one of the laboratories of
DRDO on 29 July 1970. The Centre was functioning in the main building of Metcalfe House, a
landmark in Delhi and a national monument. In August 1988 it moved to its newly built five-
storied building in the same Metcalfe House complex. Since it became a self-accounting unit,

DESIDOC has been functioning as a central information resource for DRDO. It provides science
& technology information, based on its library and other information resources, to the DRDO
headquarters, and its various laboratories at various places in India.
Organization: DESIDOC has been divided into various sections such as Documentation
Section, Translation Section, Reprography Section, Technical Section, Administrative Section,
Library Section, Multicopier Section, Publication Section, etc.
Services and Facilities Available: The main services of DESIDOC are -
i) Information Processing & Dissemination: Collection of Science and & Technology
information of DRDO interest, provide current awareness services to DRDO Scientists. This
includes Newspaper Clippings Service, IEE/IEEE contents, Current contents in Military Science
and Technology.
ii) Training: Training in the areas of library automation, database development, online
searching, e-mail and internet use, technical communication, multimedia development and other
relevant aspects of information technology.
iii) Technical Services: Providing reprography (photography, audio, video presentation
materials), translation, communication (e-mail, Internet) and printing services.
d) Internet and E-mail Access: DESIDOC took initiative and started providing e-mail and
Internet access to the DRDO Laboratories spread over the country, through 64kbps leased line
connection from VSNL, Presently about 25 dial up TCP/IP internet connection for top
management are also being managed and monitored.
v) Multimedia Laboratory: The Laboratory was established to provide multimedia authoring,
designing and presentation facilities to the top management and the Scientific Adviser to the
Defence Minister. Expertise has been established in image processing, CD-writing, audio-video
designing, desktop CD publishing and multimedia CD-ROM production. A few multimedia
products were published and consultancy was provided to establish multimedia laboratories both
within and outside DRDO.
v) Reprographic Facility: This Facility helps DRDO top management and scientists in their
technical presentations. The Facility is equipped with a computer-based 35mm multicolour slide
making system, a digital colour copier, high quality colour printers and video recorders, and
provides high quality presentation materials.
vi) Printing Facility: A full-fledged high quality Printing Facility has been established which
includes designing, layout, typesetting, DTP, processing and printing units for in-house
production of DRDO publications. High quality multicolour printing is carried out with the help
of commercial printing agencies.
e) DRDO Publications: DESIDOC functions as the publication wing of DRDO and brings out a
number of publications, covering current developments in Indian Defence Research &
Development.

The periodicals published are
 Defence Science Journal
 Technology Focus
 DRDO Newsletter
 DRDO Samachar
 DESIDOC Bulletin of Information Technology (DBIT)

4) Name any two publication of ILA.
Publications of ILA
 Library Bulleting (1942-46)
 Journal of Indian Library Association ( 1955-64)
 ILA Bulletin
 ILA Newsletter
5) Define data.
In a more technical sense, data are a set of values of qualitative or quantitative variables
about one or more persons or objects, while a datum (singular of data) is a single value of a
single variable. Although the terms "data" and "information" are often used interchangeably,
these terms have distinct meanings.
6) What is School Library?
School Libraries - The librarian of the school library has responsibilities of not only maintaining
the library but also getting involved in activities that would compliment and supplement
classroom teaching. It is necessary for her/him to possess teaching skills. Story-telling, book
talks, demonstrating the lives of birds and animals through audio-visual aids, etc. are some of
other desirable skills that a school librarian should possess.
A school library should offer some of these services to its clientele:
 Lending,
 Information and reference services,
 Guidance and advisory services,
 Preparation of reading lists both on anticipatory and responsive basis,
 Service on current events, activities, personalities, etc. and
 Other routine services.
7) Define Public Library.
Public libraries have a proud heritage. They are now acknowledged to be an integral part of
community life as promoters of literacy, providers of a wide range of reading for all ages, and
centres for community information services.
Functions of Public library:
Libraries are fulfilling the reading requirements of the each and every citizen to the fullest extent
without making any discrimination on the basis of membership and thus it is considered as

peoples University. It focuses on providing knowledge on all matters including academic and
non — academic. Now —a-days Public Libraries are functioning as mobile – channels in
providing knowledge to the people of rural and urban areas
A modern public library performs different functions in the society to achieve its objectives and
works as:
a) Information Dissemination Center
b) Life Long Learning Center
c) Community’s Intellectual Center
d) Recreation Center
e) Community’s Culture Preservation Center
f) Instrument of Social Change
g) Representative of Democracy
8) What is Library Cooperation?
Simply defined, library cooperation refers to a reciprocally beneficial sharing of resources
developed or pre-existing by two or more libraries . An interchange is usually between two or
more institutions involving a temporary exchange of resources, while an exchange will involve
cooperation on a wider scale, to include exchange of all kinds of materials, exchange of
information, user access to participating libraries, sharing of bibliographic Catalogs, union lists,
and other bibliographic utilities, and cooperative training Programs of personnel of participating
libraries.
9) Mention any two Objectives of ALA.
The American Library Association (ALA) has the uniqueness of being the oldest and largest
library association in the world. It was founded in 1876 with its headquarters at Chicago Address
: American Library Association 50, East Huron Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. 27 Role of
Professional Association A group of 103 library activists, at a meeting' held in Philadelphia in
the fall of 1876 to coincide with the nation's centennial celebrations, resolved on a motion moved
by Melvile Dewey, the father of librarianship; to form the American Library Association. ALA,
thus born, has been a success story by dedicated efforts of eminent librarians who steered the
Association in its formative periods, the ALA grew in strength steadily and became even in the
early part of this century the national voice for library interests.
Organization - Any person, library or other organization interested in library services and
libraries is admitted as a member and there is no geographical limit. ALA elects a President, a
Secretary and other office-bearers. It is governed by a Council. The Executive Board is the
management arm. It has at present 11 divisions such as those relating to adult services, school
librarians, libraries for children and young, library education, reference and adult services, and
resources and technical services as well as committees devoted to various other subjects. In some
areas, there are well developed units working under the umbrella of ALA, but they are
functioning as separate divisions, such as American Association of School Libraries, College and
Research Libraries, American Library Trustee Association, Association for Library Services to
Children. Association, of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies, Library Administration
and Management Association, Library and Information Technology Association and Public

Libraries Association. Yet another tier in the structure of ALA consists of Round Tables, which
are membership units dealing with aspects of librarianship outside the scope of a division
Objectives - ALA is an organization for librarians and libraries with the overall objective of
promoting and improving library services and librarianship and providing life-long services to
all. It stands for user-oriented library and information, services. Its aim is to propagate library
consciousness and promote the library interests of the country. It is there to work for intellectual
freedom without the constraint of censorship and for free access to reading materials. The ALA
is concerned with the profession, and the professional's interests.
10) Mention any two publications of IFLA.
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) The International
Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) founded in 1929 with the aim of
promoting international contacts among library associations and librarians, is a non-
governmental professional organisation. In the first two decades, It had remained almost as a
forum confirmed to leading librarians from Europe and America: In the post-war period; with a
consultative status accorded by UNESCO, it began to develop, but slowly. The International
Conference on Cataloguing Principles held in Paris in 1961 gave some impetus to the growth of
IFLA. After the Secretariat shifted to the Hague in 1971, IFLA (under the presidentship of
Herman Liebaers), stepped up its activities and was able to enlist universal international
membership. At the present time, with some major projects and many smaller programmes,
IFLA is quite active and is making worldwide impact towards promoting the cause of
librarianship.
The broad objective of IFLA.
A is to promote international understanding, Cooperation; discussion, research and development
in all fields of library activity including bibliography; information service and education of
personnel and to provide a professional body through librarianship can be represented in matters
of international interest.
The periodical publications of IFLA are:
IFLA journal (quarterly); International cataloguing (quarterly), IFLA Annual and IFLA
Directory (annual). In the Monograph Series, IELA has a number of useful publications, brought
out by K.G. Saur (Munich/London). Another series, relates to UBC Publications. India has begun
to take an active part in IFLA lately. The India Library Association and a few other professional
associations and institutions have become members. India is also represented in the Executive
Board of IFLA. ILA organised IFLA Regional Seminar on UAP in New Delhi in 1985. It is a
matter of great significance that IFLA: General Conference was held at New Delhi in 1992
hosted by the India Library Association
11) Write a detailed note on Libraries in the modern society.

Libraries play an important role in the socio-economic, cultural and educational development of
a society. Let us now study the role of libraries in modern society and education.
Library as a Social Institution Library service is considered as a social necessity for the steady
development of a person as a social being.
Library as a social institution serves several purposes.
i)It helps the life-long self-education of one and all;
ii) It furnishes up-to-date facts and information on all subjects to everyone;
iii) It disseminates to everyone, in an unbiased and balanced way, all shared recorded
views and thoughts;
iv) It provides opportunities for positive use of leisure time to one and all;
v) It preserves the literary and cultural heritage of humanity for antiquarian research; and
vi) It works for continued social well-being of the society, as an agency incharge of all
socialized recorded thoughts.
(a) Library for raising Cultural Level - Libraries enhance the level of intelligence and
status of the common man in the society to a great extent. They also increase the quantum
of common sense of the average man in the community. The library tends to increase the
reading habits and change the reading tastes of the people by raising their cultural level.
To make the people erudite, civilized and cultured, an effective educational system
largely dependent on abundant reading material is required. If reading materials are to be
at the disposal of the whole population, libraries are inevitable. Libraries cater to all
possible needs of the community, facilitate users to undertake research in every walk of
life, provide recreation and information to all classes of the population.
(b) Library – an Instrument for Creating Refined Citizens - A civilized society is
expected to have a literate and educated community fully aware of the value, importance and
use of libraries. This is so because, wherever there is civilization, there must be books and
wherever there are books, there are libraries. The library is, thus, a driving force capable of
building a better society by its nature, variety, quality and extent of service. It is a support for
all types of educational development of an individual. It enables every reader to access a
wide range of reading material in order to broaden one’s outlook, knowledge and ideas. The
success of any democracy depends upon the educated and enlightened citizens irrespective of
their social status. An informed and refined citizen tries to judge what is right and wrong. It
opens the windows of the mind and enables the readers to solve their crucial problems in a
reasonable manner.
(c) Library Promotes the Desire for Books - Being a social institution, library not only
satisfies the readers by providing books but also promotes the desire for books. By promoting
the reading habits of the people, the library makes them library-minded and enables them to
love books. Demand for required books is fully met by librarians who make them available to
the users. Therefore, the libraries play a vital role in the social life of the community. The
growth in the size and stock of books, is made possible by the increased desire for books by
innumerable readers, giving due importance to libraries in the cultural and social
development of the society.

(d) Library Facilitates - Social Integration As a social institution and library allows its users
to interact among themselves. This is carried out by organizing talks, lectures, films,
discussions on current topics, book exhibitions, and some socially useful activities. A library
provides a right forum for social get-together within its premises and makes it available on
equal terms to all groups in the community.
(e) Library Preserves Knowledge - A library maintains archives of old and rare documents
thereby preserving literary heritage for posterity. It stores the literary remains of humanity for
antiquarian research in varied physical formats. Such collections help researchers to delve
into historical aspects.
The Role of Library in Education
Education and training of the individual is considered an essential means of stimulating
economic and social development. To make the people erudite and civilized, the society
requires an effective educational system. Without libraries there can neither be any good
school, college or university nor can life-long education of adults be encouraged. It is
believed that where formal education ends, informal education begins and a life-long
learning process is sustained with the support of adequate and proper library service.
(a) The Library as a People’s - University Education aims at imparting knowledge and
skills to individual human beings for his/her self development and inculcation of civic and
social responsibilities, so that he/she can play a positive role in the development of a society
and a nation. Libraries are the foundation in such an endeavour and can essentially be
considered “Universities of the people”.
(b) The Library as a Centre of Mass Education - Libraries in general and public libraries
in particular, have a very important role to play in the fields of political awareness, socio-
economic growth, cultural and educational enlightenment which are indispensable to the
future development of any country. Library service to all classes of people acts as an
intellectual catalyst by providing facilities for acquiring education, information, recreation,
aesthetic appreciation and research, irrespective of age and sex for the welfare of the society
as a whole.
(c) The Library as a Centre of Continuing - Education People continue their reading habits
with the help of libraries according to their desire, capacity or need. Being a centre of
continuing education for millions of people, it develops their vocational, professional and
learning skills thus facilitating individual and community problems solving. A Library
informally provides life-long continuing education to individuals.
12) Trace out the historical development of libraries in India.
Introduction: India has been the cradle of one of the earliest civilizations in the world. There is
a fact, no country where the love of learning has so early an origin or has exercised so lasting an
influence. The importance of libraries in academic institutions was, therefore, recognized in
India even in the remote past.

Libraries of Ancient India:
In the Vedic age instructions were imparted orally, without the medium of books, and are
perhaps the reason that no libraries have so far been discovered in the archaeological excavations
at Taxila though it was a famous seat of learning from 700 B.C. to 300 A.D. With the advent of
Buddhism, teaching came to be practiced through the written word and this, in turn, gave rise to
libraries. Fa-Hien noticed such libraries at the Jetavana monastery at Sravasti (U.P). The Nalanda
University in Bihar (300-850 A.D.) had a huge library complex known as Dharmaganj. Jagaddal,
Kanhery, Mithila, Odantapuri, Somapuri, Ujjain, Vallabh, and Vikramsilla were the other seats
of learning which had good collections of manuscripts in the libraries attached to them. All these
libraries were destroyed at one time or the other by fire or Muslim iconoclasts, often in
ignorance.
Takshila University acquired an international reputation in the 6th century B.C. as a center of
advanced studies. The university was founded in the city of Gandhara in northwest India. It is
considered to be the first University in the world. It was a great center of learning with a number
of famous teachers, each having a school of his own. It had an enrolment of 500 students,
including 101 princes and a few foreign students. The University had an excellent library. The
library collection included works on Hinduism, political science, literature, medicine, and
philosophy. The city of Gandhara, including the University and the library, was destroyed during
the invasion of Hunas, in the middle of the fifth century.
In the 3rd century B.C. Buddhism received great impetus under India’s most celebrated ruler
Ashoka. Buddhist monastic institutions at Nalanda, Vallabh, Odantapuri, and Vikramsila became
important centers of higher learning. It was the age of the rise of Indian Sciences, mathematics
and astronomy. The University of Nalanda owed its foundation to six generations of the Gupta
Kings. It housed a population of several thousand teachers and students and a good functional
library. The University had a huge library with the collection of valuable manuscripts and served
over 10,000 students from India and abroad. Nalanda University’s Library was the biggest in
Asia.
Libraries in Medival India:
The existence of academic libraries during the medieval period of Indian history is not known,
though the Muslim rulers did patronize libraries in their own places. A lone exception, however,
was a library attached to a college at Bidar, having a collection of 3,000 books on different
subjects. Aurangzeb got this Library transferred to Delhi to merge it with his palace library.
Libraries in Modern India:
1. Early Nineteenth Century: College libraries are the fore-runners of a modern university
library. Warren Hastings, Governor-General (1774-85), founded a Madrasa at Calcutta in 1781.
Jonathan Duncan in 1792 stressed the need to collect books of the ancient valuable general
learning and tradition. Lord Minto, Governor-General (1807-13), in his minutes of the 6 March
1811 wrote, Library be attached to each of the Colleges under the charge of a learned native with
a small establishment of servants for the care of manuscripts. Perhaps, this is the first statement
on record concerning libraries in the academic set-up in India. Lord Auckland, Governor-General
of India (1836-40), further outlined the library policy in his minutes of the 24 November 1839;
make the greatest use of the college libraries which are now attached to many of our institutions.
Library collections of the colleges thus started growing and by 1882 some of them crossed a
thousand marks While assessing the position of college libraries in India, the Hunter

Commission observed the extent to which libraries are used generally reading of students has
sprung up. Seven years after the Hunter Commission report in 1889, the Library of the Forman
Christian College in Lahore was established. Within five years this Library had a collection of
13,000 books, with a Librarian (H.M.Grawold) to administer and this Library became an integral
part of students’ education. The reading room was opened twenty-four hours and students were
encouraged to go in at all hours. It helps to promote the habit of self-study and stimulated general
reading outside the prescribed text-books.
University Libraries – Then and Now:
And during this period (i.e. 1883-1973), university libraries of the country have witnessed a
swell of change because of:
1. The emergence of Dr. S.R.Ranganathan on the library horizon;
2. The recommendations of Radhakrishnan Commission(1948-49);
3. The establishment of the University Grants Commission in 1956; and
4. The recommendations of the Kothari Commission (1964-1966).
Besides these, the seminars of University Libraries and Carl White’s Survey of Delhi University
have given a refurbished thought, orientation, and dimension to university librarianship in the
country.
Thus the system of higher education in India, in terms of the number of universities and their
affiliated colleges, has been expanding very rapidly since the time of independence. The number
of universities which was thirty-three in 1956-1977 rose to two hundred and seven in 1995-1996,
which include thirty-six deemed to be universities and ten institutions of national importance. As
many as 9,278 colleges are affiliated to these universities which together enroll 64.26 lakh
students for graduate, post-graduate, research degrees/diplomas and employ 2.80 lakhs teachers
for teaching and research. The undergraduate level of education occupies 43.5 percent of higher
education and the postgraduate and the research level education cover 28.2 percent and 7.4
percent respectively.
In 2001 the number of universities in India stands at 248 and it is steadily growing. Today the
Indian university system is one of the largest education systems in the world. Consequently, a
significant change in the outlook of the university administrators, the faculty members, and the
students has also come about and now they no longer recognize the librarian as the custodian and
the library as the storehouse of books and documents but known as information Scientist and
library as Information Centres.
India has unique characteristics of having the third-largest system of higher education (next to
the USA and USSR) in the world. With the spread of higher education in India through the
planning era, the libraries have been looked upon as an important adjunct to education.
13) State the five Laws of Library science and explain the implication of second law of library
science.
The laws of Library Science govern various disciplines within the field of library
science and are normally invoked when two or more commons lead to a conflict. S. R.
Ranganathan formulated the Five Laws of Library Science in 1928 and published
themin1931 under thetitle "Five LawsofLibraryScience".

The five laws are:
1. Books arefor use
2. Everyreader his/her books
3. Everybookits reader
4. Save the time ofthe user
5. Libraryis a growing organism
First Law:BooksareforUse
The first law of Library Science is 'Books are for use'. No one will question the
correctness of this law but the story in actual practice is different. Historically, in the 15th
and 16th century in Europe, books were chained to the selves. In those days, libraries
were meant for storage rather than for use. At a later stage, books were made available to
those people who paid a fee, but now the book lending is free for users. Modern libraries
are attractive, comfortable and a number of special services are introduced to ensure
optimum utilisation of books. A modern librarian is happy when the readers make their
shelves constantly empty. He/she is worried and depressed on seeing those books which
remain in the library only. Librarians take initiatives to make the library a centre of
intellectual achievements by increasing the use ofbooks.
Implications
In order to satisfy the first law of library science, libraries have to look into a number of
factors.The most prominent are:
Library Location
The resources ofthe library need to be fullyexploited. Library has to play its vital role among
intellectual users. It must be at the centre of its users community. If it is an academic library, it
should be situated inthe middle ofthe academic institutionor at a distance of few minutes' walk
from the teaching departments or hostels. If it is a public library, it must be located inthe heart of
the city. Acentrally located librarywill be helpful in increasing the use of books and, hence, will
become the soul of the institution or city for its intellectual achievements.
Library Hours
Before the advent of this law, libraries mostly remained closed. Even when open, it was
mainly to perform the dusting of books and chasing out the 'book worms'. Fortunately, in
countries where the law "Books are for use" is implemented, it has changed people's mind
and normally the libraries are kept open for 18 hours a day. In the majority of universities in
the USA and Europe, the library is kept open round the clock.
In libraries, the opening hours of the library are according to the convenience of the library

users. Academic libraries are kept open during the working hours of the institution. Most
of the libraries are kept open from morning to evening. In case ofpublic library, most of the
users are workers, businessman, professionals, etc., so such libraries are kept open according
to the off/free time of the users. Now-a-days, due to the impact of this culture, the majority of
libraries are kept openroundthe clock.
Library Furniture
The impact of the first law 'Books are for use' on library furniture and internal equipments,
is considerable. In the olden days, when the books were stored for preservation, the focus
was to keep the maximum number of books in the least space, at the lowest cost. Hence, the
books were shelved up to the roof. The implementation of the first law motivates us to
provide open access of books to library users. Now, generally, the shelves are not more
than 7 feet high. The space between two rows of shelves is sufficient, so that the readers and
staffcan move comfortably.
The Reading Room is also made attractive with hangings, flowers and pictures. The rooms
are made vermin-proof and theft-proof, and are well-ventilated. The tables and chairs are
comfortable and suitable for continuous sitting for long hours. The Bureau of Indian
standards established standards for the design of tables and chairs for the reading room of a
library under the chairmanship of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan. The first law has, thus, exercised
tremendous influence onthe library building and its furniture.
Library Staff
In the olden days, the librarian as a caretaker was expected to protect the books from four
enemies- fire, water, vermin and man. He was just a matriculate and his pay was low. The
first law of library science directs that the libraries must have well-educated and qualified
staff, so that theycanprovide better libraryservices totheir users.
Library professionals should not forget the noble cause of the service. Scholarship,
training, emoluments and status, etc. are some essential issues for attracting qualified and
sincere professionals. The staff of the library should ensure the maximum use of books by
readers.
The library should try to keep a balance between the retrospective holdings and latest
information bearing documents in its collection. Staff of the library should express their
pleasure while providing services and express their friendly attitude. They should
function as a friend, guide and teacher to their users. The efficiency of service and the
ultimate success of the modern library as an agency for diffusion of knowledge depend
uponthe performance ofits staff.

BookSelection
The first law had a tremendous impact on book-selection procedure. The librarians
should perform the primary work of selecting books while keeping the present and
potential needs of users in mind. In order to maximise the use of books, the librarian
should select books in a suitable, informative, evaluative and inspiring way. In fact, the
first law allows placing of only those books on the shelves which are regularly read,
enjoyed, understood and acted upon by users. Worn out and out-of-date books should be
'weeded'out withrigidity.
In brief, the implication of the first law is profound, rich, useful and revolutionary. This
law has changed the concept of librarianship as it was in the olden days.
SecondLaw:EveryReaderhis/herBook
The second law of library science has established a new concept of libraries and has
inculcated the culture of libraries. 'Every Reader his/her Books' means, books for all.
Books for all symbolises 'Education for All.' In the past, education was not for all, it was
onlyfor the chosen few.
The second law states that everyuser ofthe library should get the book he/she wants. This law
also advocates the generalisation and democratisation of library services. In earlier days, the
access to libraries and their books were only available to those few who belonged to the
aristocracy and the upper classes. Now, the library services have become the basic right of all
citizens, without any distinction or discrimination. Thus, the second law 'Every Reader
his/her Books' has assumed great importance in this age of democracy. The second law
supports the principal of equality of opportunity for books for all and provides a suitable
environment for allto learn.
Implications
Requirements of the readers are varied for the implementation of the law 'Every Reader
his/her books'. It is the obligation of the library to provide every reader his/her books. This
law has placed obligations on the state, library authority, library staff and the readers of the
library.
Obligation ofthe State
It is the obligation of the state to provide sufficient support to its citizens for informal,
continuous self-education through the network of libraries. Public libraries provide
academic and literary support to a cross-section of the society, i.e., children, men, women,
rich, poor, disadvantaged or challenged in anyway, to facilitate development and
disseminationofknowledge.

The state maintains various library services through several provisions for library
activities and organisation. Various levels of provisions for better functioning of libraries
are as follows:
 StatePublic LibraryAct;
 StateLibraryAuthority;
 LocalLibraryAuthority;
 LocalLibraryCommittee and Village LibraryCommittee;
 StateCentralLibrary;
 Finance, Accounts and Audit.
Thus, the development of the planned programmes of library services to "All", can only
come from the government of the state.
Obligation ofthe Library Authority
The library authority should monitor the functioning of libraries and the overall system.
They should try to provide prompt and free service. A well-thought legislative and co-
ordinated measure on the part of the state ensuring adequate source of finance is essential,
but not sufficient.
For the second law, obligation of library authorities is in respect of choice of books and
the choice of the staff. These are the main functions of authorities in libraries.
To provide 'Every Reader his/her Book', the second law requires the librarians to know
(i) Subject (ii) Standard (iii) Language of the books used.
The second law indicates that a library should select books on all the major occupations
of its actual and potential users. The people are also likely to demand biographies and
travel books. The second law also desires that the book selection should be closely
connected with the exposition of language and style suited to all the intellectuals. The
librarians should select and furnish books which satisfy the demands of the neo-literates
as wellas scholars.
Regarding the selection/appointment of staff, an adequate and competent team of library
professionals is necessary for facilitating the law ‘every reader his/her book’. In the
absence of competent staff, a reader will not be able to utilize the library services
properly.
Obligation ofthe Staff
The library staff has a great role to play in the success of the second law. The first law
stresses the need for a well-qualified trained and well-paid staff, the second law directs

the library authority to provide adequate and devoted staff to show every reader how to
use books as tools. To act as the canvassing agent for the books, the staff must know the
readers, must know the books and actively help every reader to find books of his or her
interest.
Book selection is an important job of the library staff. The staff should build-up good
collections of reference work in libraries and provide personalised service, whenever
needed. In conclusion, we understand that the second law demands the staff to help the
users ofthe libraries in locating the required books.
Obligation ofthe Reader
In the second law, there are certain duties/responsibilities of the users of libraries too. The
users of the library should cooperate with the library staff so that the latter can provide
better services. The users should have a sound knowledge of the rules and regulations of
the library.
Readers should know that there are other users too in the library. It is the obligation of every
reader to get only the number of books he/she is entitled to and return them on/before the
due dates. The users should also have the basic knowledge of the scheme of
classification used in the library and the art of using the library catalogue. They should
know about reference works, bibliographies, catalogues and other libraryservices.
ThirdLaw:EveryBookitsReader
The third law is: "Every Book its Reader". It ensures the maximum utilisation of books by the
readers. This law advocates providing an appropriate reader for every book. The first law
is developed to satisfy the interest of library documents, the second law is concerned with
the task of finding an appropriate book for every reader and the third law expects that an
appropriate reader should be found for every book. The most prominent system used by
the libraries for satisfying the third law is 'Open Access System', while the other library
activities related to this are shelf-arrangement, catalogue entries, reference work, publicity
methods, book selection and extension work.
Implications
Open Access
The Open Access System provides an opportunity to see and examine the book collection
with as much freedom as one has in one’s own library. In an open access library, the
readers are permitted to enter the stack room and browse books to select the best
book/booksto satisfytheir requirement.

The Open Access System increases the use of books. It provides an opportunity to its
readers to search for books which they never expected to find due to various reasons. With
this specific support, less-used booksare putto use.
Shelf arrangement
Shelf-arrangement plays a vital role in providing easy and comfortable access books to their
appropriate readers. The third law emphasises the need for the arrangement of books on
shelves in a classified order, based on their content. Subject-based arrangement on shelves,
a special shelf for displaying recent arrivals, and novelty in the arrangement and display,
attractthe attentionofthe users.
Catalogue
It is the catalogue that gives useful bibliographic information about the library collection
and helps in the selection of books. A well-planned, classified shelf arrangement is highly
desirable but it is not sufficient in itself to attract readers unless it is supported by a well-
developed catalogue. The third law also expects the technical staff to prepare analytical
entries based on the contents of each document, for the benefit ofreaders.
Reference Work
The books cannot reach the hands of readers unless their content is interpreted by the
reference staff. It is the duty of a reference librarians to act like marriage match- makers
between books and readers. They should find a suitable reader for every book or vice versa.
They should also identify all those books which are of less use or no use. This is a kind of
service thatthethird law expects fromthe reference staff.
Publicity
Publicity is a powerful tool to attract the users of the library and thereby to increase the
chances for every book to find its reader. Regular publicity is given through library
bulletins, newspapers, magazines, printed catalogues, subject book lists, press notices,
book fair, window displays, radio/TV talk, public lectures, exhibitions, demonstration
tours, library week, brochures and leaflets. The library should adopt all authorised
methods to attract more libraryusers.
Books Selection
The third law has an important role in the book selection process. For satisfying the third
law and fulfilling the users' demand, it is essential to examine the users' requirements and

the objectives of the library. Book selection must be proper, timely and based on the local
demand, local history and local needs of the users. Thus, the book selection process
plays an important role in satisfying the third law of library science.
Extension Service
The extension service is a vital part of the implications of the third law. The purpose of
providing extension services is to convert the library into a social centre for encouraging
and inculcating reading habits and to turn a non-reader into a regular reader.
To satisfy the demand of the third law, librarians celebrate local festivals and certain
national days dedicated to national leaders or ideas, and participate in local festivals. In
India, where such celebrations attract huge crowds, this form of extension service has a
great potentialto satisfysome aspects ofthethird lawoflibraryscience.
FourthLaw:SavetheTimeoftheReader
The main concern of the first three laws of library science is to facilitate access to books by
their appropriate reader, and to optimise the usage of library collection. The fourth law
focuses on the services for the readers to save the time of the reader as well as staff. The
law expects the reference staff to support readers from the very moment they enter the
library, up to the moment they leave it, critically examining each and every process they
involve themselves in, witha careto save their time.
Implications
Open Access System
The fourth law strongly opposes the process of ‘Close Access System’ as the time is an
important constraint. In a closed access system, there will be loss of time while going
through the library catalogues. In larger libraries, if the closed access system is followed,
the unit processing time for getting the required book may be longer in comparison to that
in the Open Access System. As the user, after submitting the request, is bound to wait at
the counter to get the required book and it may take a longer time if the asked book is not
available on the shelf and the staff is asked to give list of other related books. In the Open
Access System, the user can go to the relevant shelf and browse several books and then
finalise the best suited book.
Shelf Arrangement
The comfortable and useful method of shelf arrangement can save significant time of the
user. Arrangement by subject has been found to be useful as it makes it easy for the reader
to locate the desired book. But in some cases, the interest of the reader goes primarily by the

author rather than by the subject. The method of shelf arrangement should be based on the
convenience ofthe users.
Stack RoomGuides
Proper signal guides in the stack room save the time of the user. It may be quite useful to
place them at the entrance of the stack room. They should include the complete plan of the
stack room indicating the disposition of every row. Every book shelf must have a separate
signalguide.
Catalogue
The fourth law acknowledges the composite nature of the books. Some prominent aspects
of a composite book can be highlighted only by cross-reference and analytical entries. The
fourth law advises the librarian to meet the diverse needs of readers. To save the time of the
reader, the library catalogue is generally divided in two parts: Alphabetical and Classified.
Some libraries also have an Author-Title and Subject catalogues, altogether known as
DictionaryCatalogue.
Although the library catalogue enables a reader to locate the desired book without any
loss of time, yet it becomes difficult to search for a micro-document.
Further to save readers’ time, the library must procure published bibliographies of
individual authors, subject bibliographies, cumulative indexes to periodicals, topical
bibliographies, national and regional bibliographies, union catalogues, computerised
databases, etc.
Reference Services
Most of the readers require the assistance of reference staff who knows the hide-and- seek
character of all catalogues and indexes, and can easily understand them. They can bring
books and readers together by providing ready reference services. Reference staff can
also help in the selection of books. Documentation services like indexing, abstracting,
translation, reprography; information services like CAS (Current Awareness Services),
selective dissemination of information, referral service, information consolidation and
repackaging, etc. helps in fulfilling the requirements ofthe fourthlaw.
Issue/Return Methods
Circulation service is an important service of library. If this service is well planned and
equipped, it saves the time of both the users and staff. After a number of experiments, it
is brought out that Browne charging system, Newark Charging System, Ranganathan

Reader ticket-Book ticket method and Detroit Self-charging System are some of the
economical and time-saving charging systems. The two-card system is found to save the
time of the readers over 'Day book' and 'Ledger system'. Automated circulation system is
better than allother systems that save the time ofthe users.
OtherServices
To save the time of readers, libraries provide other services like Mobile library services,
Library services for special classes, etc.
FifthLaw:LibraryisaGrowingOrganism
The fifth Law is 'Library is a growing organism'. This law enunciates a fundamental rule
and principle which govern planning and organisation of libraries. The fifth law handles
the library as an institution which has all the qualities of a growing organism. A growing
organism has the inherent feature of natural growth, deterioration, change in size,
development ofnew shapes and forms, etc.
Implications
Growth The library is a growing organism. Its growth depends on the number of readers,
materials and staff. According to Dr. Ranganathan, there are two types of growth; Child growth
and Adult growth. Here, the child growth is characterised byanoverall growth in size and weight,
while adult growth is characterised by the absence ofan overgrowth. The growth of a library is
very similar to the child growth in respect ofreading materials and staff. It may possibly attain
the adult growth, but only with respect to the numberofreaders.
The main components of the library organism are the books, readers and staff. A modern
library is a trinity of all these components. There must be a harmonious growth among
these basic components.
ReadingMaterials
The quality of every library service is based on a well-chosen, selective and growing
collection of information and documents. The library should purchase new books,
journals, audio-visual materials and other informative documents to provide informational
support for teaching and research activities of the parent institution, and to fulfill the needs
ofthe readers.
The Library Building
The increasing size of the library collection is one of the important aspects for growth. This
type ofgrowth is reflected inthe stack roomofa library. Its size, relative position, book racks,
forming unit for which the stack is built, the parts of the book rack, the self-planks, label
holders and all such things relating to the housing of books are examined in the light of the

inevitable growth in stack. In terms of the size of library building, the librarian should
provide sufficient provision not only for satisfying the present needs, but also the future
needs.
The library building must have a self-sufficient system for adjusting books of fluctuating
size. Being a service institution, a library may provide a number of user- based services.
The design of library building must be functional in nature for providing proper space for
all the services. The Periodical Room also needs a careful design in the light of the fifth law
of library science. While designing the library building, new principles of architecture
such as modular design need to be considered seriously.
Catalogue Room is a very important part of the library building. The catalogue room is the
room in which the catalogue cabinets are kept. A standard size of a unit cabinet is 23"*28".
It can hold 48000 catalogue cards. It is observed that each book may have sufficient
number of cards for its proper representation. So, there must be a provision for its
extension.
The fifth law also affects the physical form of the library catalogue. If a library is a
growing organism, the library catalogue will also grow proportionally. If a library grows
dynamically, librarian finds it difficult to administer its catalogue because of its limited
identity, inflexibility and increasing cost. Other physical forms of the catalogue are shelf
catalogue, loose-leaf book catalogue and one leaf one entry catalogue, but all of these are
not competent enough to satisfy the fifth law of library science. Card catalogue is very
useful for libraries because of its simplicity, attractiveness, cost-effectiveness and the
tendency to have less chances of error, . The card catalogue has an epoch-making
contribution in the library profession. It is quite valuable for preparing bibliographies,
indexes and union catalogues for ensuring that the library is up-to-date and is ever
expanding.
Classification Scheme
Another important matter that needs to be examined in the light of the fifth law is the
classification of books. As knowledge itself is growing at a very high speed, it is
necessary that the classification scheme is comprehensive, all-embracing of all past and
present issues and allowing space for any possible addition of knowledge. It means that
the classification must be highly flexible, expandable and hospitable, so that it can
accommodate any new subject without dislocating its pre-defined sequence.
The reader is a part of trinity, where he/she is an important part of the library
organisation. The growth of libraries is measured in terms of continuity, eternity and

perpetuity which depends upon the growth in the number of readers. The growth of
readers is examined inthe light ofthe following factors:
(a) The size ofthe reading room
(b) The methodofuse
(c) Safeguards
The growth of the reader requires the reading room to be flexible to meet the growth of
documents, furniture and accommodation of readers. The reading room should be well-
planned, attractive and comfortable with seating arrangements for painless study.
Issue Work: The increased number of readers leads to the increase in issue and return work.
The size and shape of the issue counter must, therefore, be taken into consideration to
meet the future growth. The issue system will also affect the size of the counter. The
counter should be spacious enough to make the reader comfortable while getting their
books issued and returned. The provision of property counter must be available, where
readers candeposit their luggage (belongings).
Open Access The Openaccess systemis onlya mediumfor facilitating the meeting ofbooks and the
readers through the fifth law. In the open access system, the readers themselves pick booksoftheir
choice, while inclosed access system, it is not possible.
Circulation System
The ledger system based circulation is not sufficient for the growth of issue/return work, as
it involves a number of operations in completing the process of issue/return of a book. The
Browne Changing System and Newark Changing System have achieved better results in
crowdedlibraries.
On the other hand, Ranganathan proposed the Two Card System, known as Reader's Ticket-
Book Card Charging System. It is useful and the most economical charging system. These
methods have solved the problem of identifying borrowers. Readers are made responsible
for the books drawn on their tickets and it is their work to keep the tickets in their personal
custodyand prevent the use ofthese tickets byothers.
Safe-Guards
As the number of users increases, the problems of preventing unauthorised removal of
books from the library becomes an acute problem in the Open Access libraries. It
necessitates some safeguards. The safeguards really ensure that all readers can leave the
library through a single door, where vigilance can be exercised. The safeguards consist
of the following arrangements: the entrance and exit to the library must be provided by

one and only one gate door. The gate door should normally be in a closed position. It
should be opened only if the counter assistant allows it. The moment reader exits it, it
should automatically close/lock itself. The passage of the gate should be big/wide enough
to allow one and only one reader to pass through it at a time. All other doorways and
windows should be fitted with grill work, shutters, or weld-mesh shutters; whose meshes
are too small for a book to allow passing. The greatest disservice tothe OpenAccess is its
introductionwithout propersafeguards.
Staff
For providing quality support to the library users with regard to various library services,
a library require a large number of professionally-trained personnel. For facilitating this,
the library decision-maker provides the required staff. To fulfil the aim of library
organisation, the librarian must keep in view three behavioural requirements:
1. Brilliant and trained people must be inspired to join the libraryprofession
and to remain in it.
2. The staffmust be aware ofthetask forwhichtheyhave beenappointed.
3. Working environments must be conducive for creative, spontaneous
and innovative work.
Staff Council
Dr. Ranganathan suggests the formation of a staff council to help the librarians to obtain
maximum outcome of work in an efficient manner. In the constitution of the council,
there should be one representative from each section of the library. The prime function
of the staff council is to advise the librarian on various matters. Besides, the librarian
should encourage the staff members to work with dedication through sectional meetings.
Spirit oftheHive
As a library remains open on all days for long hours, the organisation of the reference
section and the direct dealing counters require skilfulness and care during interaction.
Further, library professionals in such areas should work hard with a natural quality of
politeness. The members of staff should inculcate in themselves the spirit of bees. It means
that member of staff should be willing to co-operate with one another in every possible
way.
14) Define Special Library. Discuss Purpose and Functions of Special Libraries.
Answered in QP 2019 Q No. 1

15) What is Public Library? Discuss the Objectives and Functions of Public Libraries.
Answered in QP 2019 Q No. 1
16) Library Legislation.
The public library should serve as a local information centre making the sources of knowledge
readily available to the public. Public libraries should stimulate neoliterates, semi-literates, non
users to become readers, and serve the population with knowledge and information.
Need for Library Legislation
It is recognised that ‘freedom, prosperity and the development of a society, and of individuals,
are fundamental human values.’ These values can be attained through well informed citizens,
who will be shaped through utilisation of public libraries. It is recognised all over the world that
education including the provision for free public libraries is the responsibility of the Government
at National, State and Local levels. A public library is the “People's University”. In the process
of evolution, our country had established good number of public libraries maintained by local
bodies and voluntary organisations, arid some libraries through subscriptions. But these libraries
could not grow on modern lines because :
1) They were started mostly with voluntary efforts and had meagre funds to meet information
needs of the people.
2) The financial support through subscriptions or through public donations could not provide
viable services;
3) The governance and management of these libraries were on adhoc lines without any structure
and resources;
4) Very limited services were provided that too to members;
5) They had no stability nor scope for growth;
6) They functioned only as long as the initial enthusiasm of the founders remained, thereafter
these libraries slowly decayed
The reasons for legislation
l) It will constitute. a proper administrative and supervisory body with executive powers;
2) It will provide a well organised library system for the state, district and upto the remote village
level with free access to all the citizens.
3) It will provide a steady and permanent source of finance;
4) It will. maintain standards in library service;
5) It will be obliged to meet the objectives and remain accountable.
COMPONENTS OF LIBRARY LEGISLATION
The Public Libraries Act, which is to be operated in Indian conditions should have the following
components:-
1) The PREAMBLE of the Act should clearly spell out the objectives of library legislation and
therefore, it should be precise and explicit.

2) State Level Authority: The Act should have the provision for the constitution of a Board as
the State Library Authority. The Minister-in-charge of libraries should be the State Library
Authority, charged with the duty of implementing the Act. It will be his duty to supervise and
promote the improvement of the library service, provided by the library authorities and to secure
proper discharge of their functions. It shall be his statutory duty to establish, equip, administer a
State library system, providing comprehensive and efficient library service, free of charge, to all
the citizens in the State.
3) Chief Executive of the State: In this Act, the Chief Executive at State level shall be called
the Director of Public Libraries; who should an in information science professional. The Director
shall supervise and control the public library system of the state, with the guidance of the State
Library Authority.
4) Network of Libraries: The act should provide for establishment and functioning of public
libraries as a pyramidal structure from village, or even a hamlet level, to the state level via the
districts covering towns and tehsils, etc.
5) Financial Clauses: The Act should spell out financial sources to ensure a regular flow of
funds and their deployment. There should be a provision in the Act to collect library cess from
all possible sources. Dr. S.R. Ranganathan, a pioneer in library legislation in India, advocated for
the provision of library cess in the Model Acts.
6) Manpower: A provision should be made to create a cadre of State Library Service, and all the
members of the said service should be Government servants, and their recruitment and
conditions of service should be as per provisions of the Article 309 of the Constitution of India.
7) Accountability: The activities and accounts of the Public Library System shall be open to
public inspection, supervision and as per official audit rules.
8) Registration of Books: There must be a provision for the registration of books and
periodicals published in the State under the legal deposit rules.
9) Rules: Rules should be made by the State Library Authority for all the sections a4d for
smooth functioning, administration and control of the offices and the staff.
17) University Libraries. Answered in QP 2019 Q No. 1
18) KPLA 1965.
Karnataka public library act 1965
19) IFLA. See Q No. 8 of this paper.
20) Resource Sharing.
In the age of information explosion, no library however big or rich, able to satisfy all the needs
of its users due to tremendous number document as well as information published every
moment’s. The demands and needs of library users also changes from time to time, so the library
get trouble to meet their users needs. To solve the problems of information explosion, the
concept of resource sharing has been developed.

Resource Sharing is nothing but sharing of library resources with other participating libraries
who need it. It is a type of library cooperation, where every participating libraries share their
unused and sometime their valuable library resource’s with other library.
According to Chatterjee[1] “it will not merely mean mutual sharing of information sources
available in different libraries, it will mean utilizing the information sources of one library for
generating services by another library”.The goal of resource sharing is to maximize the
availability of materials and services at the minimum expense. Library resource comprise man
power, materials, functions, methods and services.
Goal of Resource Sharing in Library: The effectiveness of library services largely depends on
the ability of libraries to provide quick delivery of documents or books requested by library users
within a minimum time and cost.The goals of resource sharing include:
 Facilitating users to have better access to library collection and services.
 Reduction in all round cost.
 Exchange of library resources and information to benefit users.
 Enabling the users to be more aware regarding the resources not available in their own
library.
 Advocated support creative use of library information resources.
 Create positive effect on library budget in term of cost or more services at lesser cost than
can be undertaken individually.
 Avoidance of unnecessary duplication of information resources and their processing and
maintenance costs.
 Provision of greater access to information resources to a wider category of users.
 Development of specialised areas of collection building, each library concentrating on
areas of its own concern.
Areas of Resource Sharing in Library:
 Inter-library loan.
 Cooperative acquisition.
 Specialised purchasing program.
 Centralized processing of library collection.
 Shared cataloguing.
 Sharing of bibliographical data.
 Cooperative microfilming of library materials.
 Preparation and maintenance of union catalogue and union list of serials.
 Exchange of publications.
 Exchange of library expertise and personnel.
Requirements for Resource Sharing in Library:
The process of resource sharing largely involves on two major factors. One is the availability of
resources in library and the other is the sufficient numbers of library willing to join with resource
sharing activities. The following are the some of basic requirements for effective resource
sharing:
 There should be a communication link or system between the cooperative libraries.
 Most of all the libraries are willing to join with this resource sharing activities.
 Necessary technology and equipments should need to be available in the library.
 Standardised library software, hardware and database for sharing of library resources.
 Operating policies on the type of information and archives, which users can access.

Library, Information and Society

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Similar to Library, Information and Society

Similar to Library, Information and Society (20)

More from Sundar B N

More from Sundar B N (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Library, Information and Society