The laws of library science are a set of guidelines for how a library system should provide services to its patrons. In a roundabout way, they’re also guidelines for all library users on how to treat books and fellow patrons in a library. Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan, known as the father of library science, published “The Five Laws of Library Science” in 1931, the contents of which have since become widely accepted as the primary principles of library science. The first two laws, “Books are for use” and “Every reader has his book,” can be summarized in five statements. “Every book has a reader,” “Save the user’s time,” and “The library is a growing organism” are the last three statements.
The first law, “Books are for Use,” states that libraries exist primarily to provide people with access to books, with book preservation and protection coming in second. Libraries have been observed to keep books hidden to prevent them from being damaged or stolen, to the point where they are nearly inaccessible. Books, on the other hand, are intended to be read in order for people to gain knowledge and appreciation for literature. Libraries should be located in “accessible” locations, have appropriate opening hours and lending policies, and employ a welcoming, professional staff, according to this law.
The second and third library science laws, “Every reader his book” and “Every book its reader,” are frequently used in tandem. According to the second law, every library user has the right to request and receive any book or piece of information based on his or her preferences and needs. On the other hand, the third law states that every book in the library is valuable and useful, even if only one person requires it. In general, these library science laws prohibit discrimination against readers and books, and they mandate that all literary genres, references, and other sources or information be included in the collection. Libraries should also have knowledgeable, competent staff and a transparent shelving system, according to the laws.
The fourth law, “Save the reader’s time,” addresses issues of efficiency and organization in particular. Readers should be able to find what they’re looking for quickly. Indexes, card catalogs, and bibliographies all demonstrate the application of the fourth law. Even the way books are organized, whether alphabetically, genre, or according to the Dewey Decimal System, reflects the importance of how libraries can and should “save the reader’s time.”
“The library is a growing organism,” says Ranganathan in his Five Laws of Library Science. The term “growing” or “growth” in this law refers not only to the quantity of accumulated books and documents, but also to the freshness of these resources. This law also refers to how library systems should be able to adapt to changes, such as the increased use of digital and online resources.