Five Laws Of

Library Science And

Its WorkIn

Maintenance Section

Dr. S . R . Ranganathan

Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan (1892-1972) was a mathematician and librarian from India.

His most notable contributions to the field were his five laws of library science and the development of

the first major analytico-synthetic classification system, the colon classification.

He is considered to be the father of library science, documentation, and information science in India

His five laws of library science are helpful in formulating principles of document selectionIn 1928, Dr. S. R. Ranganathan formulated the

fundamental laws of Library science on the basis of his own experiences, observations and experiments

on the working of the libraries. In 1931, he published them in his book “Five Laws

of Library Science”.

FIVE LAWS OF LIBRARY SCIENCE

Books are for useEvery reader his book

Every book its readerSave the time of the reader

Library is growing organism

First Law: Books Are For Use

The first law constitutes the basis for the library services. This Law is the core of the library services.

It emphasizes the use of books in library.It embodies an elementary principle and all the

other laws of library science are based an the first law.

Therefore, a library is not merely a store house of books but a service oriented institution.

SECOND LAW: EVERY READER HIS BOOK

According to the second law every reader of a library should have the books he/she wants.

It advocates for a mandatory provision of library services to each reader according to his/her need.

It advocates the universal and democratization of library services i.e. documents are not only for the scholars but for all

including poor, sick, blind, prisoner, neo-literates and old. The documents should be accessible

irrespective of occupational and income lines, irrespective of the normal and

abnormal, or irrespective of an adult and a child.

THIRD LAW: EVERY BOOK ITS READER

Like the first law third law is also concerned with the books.

Every book in a library must find its reader.Literary means that for every book, there should be

a reader.“Every book its reader” can also be interpreted as

“Every thought or information should find its user”. “Books are for Use” is a declaration of principle.

“Every book its reader” is a directive to “make a book useful.

FOURTH LAW: SAVE THE TIME OF THE READER

Like the second law, this law is also viewed from the angle of the users.

The second law prescribes to provide a every reader with the books of his interest.

The forth law emphasizes on saving the time of the readers by adopting suitable administrative procedures.

Every reader should get fast and exact service; they should not be made to wait longer.

Unnecessary delay may cause vexation and readers may be dissatisfied.

Dissatisfied readers may cease to come to the library.

FIFTH LAW: LIBRARY IS GROWING ORGANISM

The first four Laws deals with the management and administration of libraries.

The fifth Law emphasis the planning and organization of libraries keeping in mind the

future growth.The main components of the library are

documents, the users and the staff. A library always grows in terms of documents, the

reader or the user and the staff.Library grows in terms of replacing old

documents by new ones and the new user will continuously replace the old one.

Maintenance SectionDocuments are acquired, processed, stored and displayed for use

and It is maintain in proper order.The documents must be displayed and maintained properly so that users can get the documents of their interest in the least possible

time.Maintenance work involves Shelving, location of documents,

shifting of collections, dusting and cleaning, preparation and maintenance of guides, maintenance of documents, shelf

rectification, maintenance of shelf list or register, stock verification, binding and vigilance.

The maintenance section have complete charge of shelves. Maintenance work involves a variety of jobs. Maintaining the large

number of collections in a proper order and in physical form fit to be used by users is a big job. In case, stock verification is to be done on continuous basis, then it shall be the responsibility of those section

to carry it out. This is a formidable job. If stock verification is carried out periodically, then the main responsibility shall again lie

with this section.

MAINTENANCE AND FIVE LAWS

Books are for use: Library should be kept open on all the working hours, make library furniture comfortable, opt for open access, and appoint qualified staff in proper number with suitable status, who should cultivate service attitude towards readers. According to the first law in the maintenance section, library building should be maintained properly, library furniture should be made comfortable for users use. Proper maintenance of books in stacks according to the classification systems are helpful to make books use.

Every Reader his/her book

The shelf should be arranged according to the subject of the document and not

based on the size or other aspects.In case of open access libraries there is

every possibility of some documents being misplaced intentionally or

unintentionally by the patron of the library. To fulfill the second law

misplaced books must be restored to their proper places.

Every Book its reader

Books are arranged classified and maintained in stacks in such that to meet the needs of the people and so that every books will find its reader as stated by the Ranganathan’s third law.

Stack guides are put to help the users to find their book and so that any book will not miss its reader.

•The arrangement of documents should be according to the degree of mutual relationship of subjects which will lead to saving the time of the users.

Tier guide, Gangway guide, Bay guide, Shelf guide, General Guide should be provided to save the time of the reader.

Save the time of the reader

Library is a growing organism

• The fifth Law emphasis the planning and organization of libraries keeping in mind the future growth.

• The main components of the library are documents, the users and the staff. A library always grows in terms of documents, the reader or the user and the staff.

ConclusionMaintenance section is important to carry out all

the five laws of library science stated by Ranganathan.

It includes all the necessary process that are carried out in the library that helps users in getting

the books and also the books to get its reader.

Thank You. . .