A presentation on Five Laws of Library Science by Dr. Keshava, Professor, Department of Studies and Research in Library and Information Science, Tumkur University, Tumakuru, Karnataka, India

1. FIVE LAWS OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
AUG 12,1892-27 SEPT 1972
In 1931, S.R. Ranganathan, then involved in the development
of the great library at the University of Madras, first
contemplated and began to articulate the ideas that soon
would be enunciated in The Five Laws of Library Science.
This was a period in library history when the world was
grappling with fundamental questions. What is a library?
What is library service? Libraries were just developing
systems of classification and organization, and no one had
yet dealt with a unified philosophy that attempted to define
the purposes and functions of a library. The principles
enunciated in Ranganathan’s Five Laws were the first and, to
date, the only clear definition of a library’s functions and
responsibilities.

2. 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
FIVE LAWS

3. BOOKS ARE FOR USE
 The first law constitutes the basis for the
library services. Dr. Ranganathan observed
that books were often chained to prevent
their removal and that the emphasis was on
storage and preservation rather than use. He
did not reject the notion that preservation and
storage were important, but he asserted that
the purpose of such activities was to promote
the use of them.

4. 1 BOOKS ARE FOR USE
Implications:
Location of the Library;
Library Hours;
Library Furniture;
Library Staff;

5. EVERY READER HIS/HER BOOK
 This law suggests that every member of the
community should be able to obtain materials
needed. Dr. Ranganathan felt that all
individuals from all social environments were
entitled to library service, and that the basis
of library use was education, to which all
were entitled. Librarians should have
excellent first-hand knowledge of the people
to be served.

6. 2. EVERY READER HIS/HER BOOK
 Obligation of the State;
 Obligation of the Library
Authority;
 Obligation of the Library Staff;
 Obligation of the Readers.

7. EVERY BOOK ITS READER
 This principle is closely related to the second
law, but it focuses on the item itself,
suggesting that each item in a library has an
individual or individuals who would find that
item useful. Dr. Ranganathan argued that the
library could devise many methods to ensure
that each item finds it appropriate reader.
One method involved the basic rules for
access to the collection, most notably the
need for open shelving

8. 3 EVERY BOOK ITS READER
Implications
 Open Access;
 Shelf Arrangement;
 Catalogue Entries;
 Reference Work;
 Publicity;
 Library Bulletin.

9. EXTENSION WORK
1. First form is the institution of reading system' (-books
read to illiterate at stated hours).
2. Adult education clubs for liquidation of illiteracy.
3. Undertake translations or making the local residents to
translate.
4. Systematic exchange of books between libraries.
5. Arranging public lectures.
6. Special library lectures by staff or other experts.
7. Story hours for children, dramatic performance, etc.
Celebrating, local festivals, national events, etc.
8. Organising Readers Circles for-Women, Children,
Writers, etc.
9. Audio-visual shows.

10. BOOK SELECTION
According to Dr.S.R.Ranganathan one of the means of fulfilling the
demands of the Third Law is to give full weight to the tastes and
requirements of the readers of the library book selection work.
Some of the factors from which the requirements of the readers
could be inferred are:
1. The suggestions received directly from the reader
2. The suggestions received by the assistants at the Reference
Desk.
3. The notes made from day-to-day by the Reference on floor
duty.

11. SAVE THE TIME OF THE READER
 This law is a recognition that part of the
excellence of library service is its ability to
meet the needs of the library user efficiently.
He observed that centralizing the library
collection in one location provided distinct
advantages. He also noted that excellent
staff would not only include those who
possess strong reference skills, but also
strong technical skills in cataloging,
accessioning, and the circulation of
materials.

12. 4 SAVE THE TIME OF THE READER
 Devices;
 Open Access;
 Shelf Arrangement;
 Classification;
 Stack Room Guides;

13. Devices: RFID, Automation of different
sections, Digitization, Services through
social media.

14. A. Plan of the Room: A plan of the stacks, indicating the
subject arrangement, etc., is needed at the entrance.
This will help the reader to locate the shelf carrying
the books on his subject.
B. Single Guide: A single guide attached to each book
rack generally of the dimension of 18”x6” projection
will further help the reader to identify the rack in the
row were he should go to locate the book.
C. Inclusive Class Number: Inclusive class numbers of
the books on a shelf plank is indicated on the plank.
This guide helps the reader to locate the book.
D. Tags on the books: The tags on the spine at the book
should be pasted in a row, generally above the bottom.
This will facilitate comfortable sweep of the eye of the
call numbers on the books.

15.  Catalogue;
 Reference Work ;
 Charging and Discharging;
 Location of the Library.

16. LIBRAY IS A GROWING ORGANISM
 This law focused more on the need for
internal change than on changes in the
environment itself. Dr. Ranganathan argued
that library organizations must accommodate
growth in staff, the physical collection, and
patron use. This involved allowing for growth
in the physical building, reading areas,
shelving, and in space for the catalog

17. 5 LIBRARY IS A GROWING ORGANISM
 Growth in Size
 Books
 Stack Room and Fittings
 Compact Shelves

18.  Periodical Room
 Catalogue
 Classification Scheme
 Reading Room
 Staff

19. MODERN VERSION BY CRAWFORD & GORMAN
1. Libraries serve humanity.
2. Respect all forms by which knowledge
is communicated.
3. Use technology intelligently to enhance
service.
4. Protect free access to knowledge.
5. Honor the past and create the future

20. WEB VERSION BY ALIREZA NURUZ
1. Web resources are for use.
2. Every user has his or her web
resource.
3. Every web resource its user.
4. Save the time of the user.
5. The Web is a growing organism