ranganathans five laws and the modern library

Ranganathan's Five Laws and the Modern Library

Molly Bailey-Dillon

Southern Connecticut State University

Ranganathan’s Five Laws and the Modern Library 2

Abstract

S.R. Ranganathan's Five Laws of Library Science have withstood the test of time, and

translate well to apply to the changing scope of the 21st century library. Each of the Five

Laws is considered with direct application to digital resources.


Introduction

Books are for use.

Every reader their book.

Every book its reader.

Save the time of the reader.

The library is a growing organism.

Ranganathan first conceived his Five Laws of Library Science in the 1920's. Trained as a

mathematician, Ranganthan developed a passion for libraries when studying and

traveling in Great Britain. When Ranganathan first promoted his Five Laws of Library

Science, libraries had barely emerged from closed stacks and locked doors. Books, and

the information contained within, were scarce for most of the population. In promoting

open access, education and library service for all, Ranganathan was a man of his time, yet

with the Five Laws of Library Science he progressed beyond his era. No longer contained

within the library, today's world experiences a surfeit of information. The modern library

ensures access to information contained within physical sources not readily available

other places and electronic sources however provided. Libraries must makes sure

information gets used by those who need it, connect patrons and sources, in whatever

format, in a timely manner, now and in the future. Ranganathan's Five Laws guide and

inform the library's entrance to the 21st century.

Books are for Use

The First Law is primarily a call to reject the historical notion of only collecting for status

or preservation, and to put materials into the hands of the users. In discussing his first

law, Ranganathan wrote not only of “unchaining” the books, both physically and

metaphorically, but included the implications of use by elaborating on library location,


hours, furniture and staff. Ranganathan focused on the access to materials in his first law,

and on the people who mediate that access. The library staff, to ensure the greatest

potential use, should not only open the stacks to the public, but open the library when the

community can use it, and be ready to instruct patrons in the use of the library. The

librarian must offer “a high order of ungrudging personal service.”(Ranganathan, 1988,

p.176)

The First Law changed the outlook of libraries. Not only does it prod recalcitrant libraries

into opening their collection to the community, but to other groups as well, to ensure the

continued use of their resources. Speaking in 1971, Patricia Atherton Cochrane credited

the First Law with overcoming entrenched institutional interests to initiate a plan for

library network services.(Cochrane, 1973, p. 41) Cochrane emphasized the Five Laws in

relation to nascent electronic cataloging and sharing. Without free communication

between institutions, resources contained within those institutions can only be used by a

limited number of patrons. Inter-library loan efforts could not be successful unless

libraries made their services known to potential users outside their immediate community.

“Success reinforces usage and disappointment leads the patron to seek elsewhere or to let

his needs go unfulfilled.” (Cochrane, 1973, p. 42) If a patron goes elsewhere, his needs

unfilled, the library has failed the First Law and more, because the materials will not be

used.

For the 21st century library, Mitchell (2007) interprets the first law as ensuring there are

no unnecessary constraints or barriers on patrons’ use of materials, be they in an


electronic or print format, subscription-based or owned wholly by the library, obtained

through a consortium arrangement or inter-library loan. Specific to electronic databases,

Mitchell emphasizes modern libraries will have to negotiate non-restrictive license terms

and access for remote users in order to fulfill the obligations of the first law. (Mitchell,

2007, p. 3) The electronic correlation of opening the stacks is “make sure online

resources are available when and where they’re needed.” (Cloonan & Dove, 2005, p. 59)

Maintaining access to these electronic resources is an important element for fulfilling the

first law in the 21st century. Libraries will have to meet the challenges of archiving or

perpetuating information despite unstable formats and dependence on commercial

vendors. (Mitchell, 2007, p. 4) Librarians cannot allow information to be lost or denied to

their users due to vendor or technological problems.

Academic libraries in particular must seek “the best balance between preservation and the

need for patrons to use materials efficiently and effectively.” (Mitchell, 2007) While

preservation is one of the roles of libraries, the information contained within the materials

should not be restricted because its format is fragile. A rare book or a fragile map can be

scanned and sent out, likewise a small pamphlet, to preserve the original. Capricious and

evolving modern formats require more diligence. Magnetic storage formats deteriorate

faster than predicted and change regularly. Information contained in outdated or

otherwise inaccessible formats cannot be used. A commercial vendor's sudden demise or

increase in price could also render resources inaccessible. To fulfill the First Law in the

21st century, libraries must not let these issues interfere with the use of information.


Every reader their book

With his Second Law, Ranganathan expects the library to take into consideration every

reader's needs, "whatever the age, the sex, the vocation, the capacity for self-help and the

willingness to read." (Ranganathan, 1966, p. 28) This echoes down to us through the

American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights. The Second Law covers a variety

of topics despite its simplicity. Ranganathan outlined a practical list including selection,

cataloging, inter-library loan, open access, state funding, university arrangement, and

obligations of the librarian and the reader. These are all issues that libraries today

struggle with, and modern libraries must add digital resources and internet access to this

list. But what past, present and future libraries contend with foremost are the financial,

political and ideological forces that would keep readers from their book.

In 1964, Joseph Nitecki wrote about the various pressures that are brought to bear on the

library in providing every reader their book. Readers bring pressure by requesting the

library provide a specific resource or resources on a specific topic on a controversial

topic. An example Nitecki uses is birth control, which continues to spark passionate

discussion. The book may be necessary for the medical student, but not the engineering

student. It may be required to study world development, but rejected by Catholic

scholars. "The library, as an institution of the whole community, can neither ignore nor

succumb to any of these groups’ pressure." (Nitecki, 1975, p.173-4) His point that the

library cannot remain politically neutral in trying to service, educate, or arbitrate its users.

The library is forced to take a stand against groups or individuals that would deny

someone's right to any information.


To ensure that every reader finds their book, the library is obliged to provide reference

services. Reference service may sound inherently passive, waiting for an inquiry to begin

a search. However, speaking in 1951, Louis Shores describes it as the “promotion of free

inquiry.” (Shores, 1975, p. 223) By promoting free inquiry, the librarian is taking an

active role in the development of the community, thus inserting instruction into the scope

of reference service. Ranganathan's description of reference service was portrayed

passively by Marcia Chappell in her 1976 article. She misread his emphasis on personal

service, supposing it precludes instruction. Ranganathan called for inculcating the reader

with the desire and ability to use the library at every stage of the reader's development.

Ranganathan discussed knowing the reader and the collection, to go beyond

“mechanically handing out books” and to be a “reader's adviser” (Ranganathan, 1988, p.

246-247) The role of an adviser is to guide and instruct, ideally in an active way.

In The Five Laws of Library Science, discussing universal democracy and the struggles of

the Second Law, Ranganathan wrote:

But, the Law “BOOKS FOR ALL,” has proved more than a match to the

mischievous whims of Nature. She may blind the eyes of some; she may

tie up the tongues of others; she may cast the lot of still others in solitude;

she may subject the majority to the grind of poverty. And yet, the Second

Law would treat them all alike and give to EACH HIS OR HER BOOK. It

would scrupulously maintain the principle of equality of opportunity for

books, of opportunity to learn, and of opportunity to enjoy. (Ranganathan,


1988, p. 133)

Every book its reader

Ranganathan states the most prominent of the means used by libraries to satisfy the Third

Law is the Open Access System. The other devices relate to shelf arrangement, catalog

entries, reference service, the opening of certain popular departments, publicity methods,

and extension work. (Ranganathan, 1988, p. 258) All of these efforts are covered by the

modern term of marketing. The broad marketing and promotion of library resources and

programs to users and non-users will be the only way to bring the books their readers.

While Ranganathan credits libraries in the United States for opening the stacks in the

nineteenth century, the 21st century forces the issue of openness for digital resources in

reference to the digital divide. The modern library must promote computer literacy and

arrange technology to allow those resources to be used.

Cloonan & Dove ask "do digital libraries violate the Third Law?" They describe

electronic resources as 'closed stacks' because the patron needs the intercession of the

librarian to access the resources. The concept of the electronic resources as closed stacks

resonates because “only those who already know how to search them will get to that

information.” (Cloonan & Dove, 2005, p. 60) Due to economic or situational barriers,

electronic resources are not easily accessed by many library patrons. Libraries not only

must invest in the tools used to access electronic information, but in the instruction of

their users. Whether the users’ limitations come from a lack of familiarity with

computers, or a familiarity with Google only, librarians must meet their patrons’ needs


whether they are at the Reference desk or on the internet. Cloonan & Dove challenge

libraries to integrate resources seamlessly, with no technical obstacles. As easily as the

librarian reached for a reference book, the patron should be able to receive information

from multiple databases, indexes and catalogs. “The user should not be constrained to a

selection of available information that is “book-bound,” “publisher-bound,” or even

“subject-bound.”(Cloonan & Dove, 2005, p. 59)

Academic libraries must match materials with their community and match acquisitions

with ongoing research. (Mitchell, 2007, p. 5) Electronic resources should be integrated

into the catalog, highlighted on library web pages and linked through subject guides and

pathfinders. Teachers and professors should be able to link to relevant materials, from

course guides to recommended resource lists. (Cloonan & Dove, 2005, p. 60) These

materials may not be traditional articles or reports. Video documentaries, animated

diagrams and recorded lectures all can contain valuable information. “School populations

swell with those for whom print is the least effective learning channel.” (Simpson, 2008)

By promoting non-print resources, patrons are engaged while they learn to use a broader

collection of resources.

Ranganathan includes book selection in his discussions of the implications of the Third

Law. In one aspect he presents “some negative counsel” with admonitions not to select

books outside the purview of the community. His positive suggestions include

suggestions from patrons, recommendations from staff, and vocations or events of

importance to the community. Ranganathan also advocated not slavishly following the


desires of the community, but “directing the reading tastes of its clientele along healthy

channels.” (Ranganathan, 1988, p. 285) These channels lead to verifiable sources,

acknowledged authorities and the confidence of the patron.

Originally published in 1949, Sayers’ essay The Belligerent Profession decries the same

effects of popular culture that were and are debated continuously in our society. There is

nothing strange in her promotion of the classics or in her rail against:

…the mediocre, the slick, the sentimental, the commercial, that is typical

of the mass culture of our day. …and is poured upon them by money-

ridden, power-ridden, advertising-ridden radio, moving pictures, press,

television. (Sayers, 1975, p. 139)

Without dismissing the valuable information increasingly available through the internet,

it is sodden with mediocre, commercial and unverifiable sources. However, Sayers desire

to ‘assail people with books”, to select books of greater significance which would engage

the community and “stretch the minds and imaginations” completes the mission of the

Third Law by bringing in books or resources that may be overlooked in a popular rush to

the internet. The modern library does this by identifying and promoting well-researched,

balanced resources through websites, on site instruction, telephone, and chat. “We should

be noisy about books in a noisy world.” (Sayers, 1975, p.140) And librarians must be

noisy about all the resources and services.

Save the time of the reader

Ranganthan commanded the consideration of both the objective time of the reader, and


their subjective time. Libraries save the actual, objective, time of their patrons by

promptly answering questions, providing materials, and addressing their concerns. If any

of these are delayed, the patron may lose interest or literally run out of time due to

deadlines or other constraints on their schedules and attention. Ranganathan described

subjective time as the perceived passage of time, whether quickened due to the reader's

engagement or dragging because of an unwelcome obligation. (Ranganathan, 1960, p. 34)

The librarian should make the discovery and use of the library's resources as quick and

productive or as relaxed and enjoyable as possible for each patron's time. Carol Simpson

interpreted this as an obligation to consider more than just the resources at hand, but to

also consider the style of learning, and the purpose of the information.

When one of your students needs to know the essentials of Pearl Harbor,

for example, is it more effective to give him a 100 page book, or hand him

a 20 minute video? Assuming the information is the same in both, couldn't

the student use the extra time to acquire other knowledge or experience?

We set up OPAC's and Web page pathfinders to make student searching

more efficient and effective. Couldn't we make their knowledge

acquisition just as economical? (Simpson, 2008)

Ranganathan's interest in the time of the reader was also in the economy of knowledge

acquisition. He advocated the librarian performing functions to save the time of the

researcher. It is wasteful to have a professor or student spend valuable time and energy

compiling resources, again and again, when the librarian can compile the resources once

to have the work used over and over. (Ranganathan, 1988, p.164) Format limited


Ranganathan's indexes, but modern bibliographic guides include web-based pathfinders

that integrate audio/visual media and electronic databases with books and other printed

resources.

Internet resources prove to be a different challenge than resources simply published

electronically. Popular search engines captured the attention of information seekers, yet

have not matched even the rudimentary search features of electronic databases, like field

specification, index terms and refining searches. (Summit, 1998) If librarians can

facilitate using authoritative resources, scholarly databases or authenticated websites, as

easily as patrons use whatever Google turns up, their searches become more economical.

By emphasizing more stable or vetted resources, the library can bring more efficiency to

using the Internet. By providing instruction for using databases and evaluating sources,

librarians can save their patrons' time by eliminating irrelevant ‘hits’. By working with

vendors and IT providers, libraries and librarians can influence the design and

implementation of new search engines, interfaces and hardware. (Mitchell, 2007, p.6-7)

The library is a growing organism

Ranganathan's concern with the growth of the library is not only the size of the library

but its evolution of its collection. His concerns with the growth in size of the number of

books, readers and staff are practical. The library should plan for expansion, and be sure

the methods and practices put in place will serve the library in the future. Ranganathan, in

writing for beginning Indian libraries, had to elaborate on location, appropriate shelving,

furniture, placement of the catalog and circulation practices. We may take for granted the


convenient location of the library and the many functional physical aspects of the library.

Designing the physical architecture of the library is now complimented by considering

the information architecture as well. Today the library must contend with the

arrangement and use of tools not known to Ranganathan, but the spirit of his practical

designs guide decisions concerning websites, database searches or licensing agreements.

The library in Ranganthan’s experience had grown from a place to store books to a place

from which to use and distribute books, and then to a place for the community to share

and learn. The Library had evolved into many libraries; school, town, business, academic,

and special libraries. Writing in 1931, Ranganathan, still considered a progressive thinker,

directed his gaze forward:

What further stages of evolution are in store for this GROWING

ORGANISM-the library-we cannot anticipate fully. Who knows that a day

may not come when dissemination of knowledge, which is a vital function

of libraries, will be realized even by means other than those of the printed

book? (Ranganathan, 1988, p.352)

That day has come.

If libraries are to fulfill what Ranganathan described as the vital function, the

dissemination of knowledge, in the 21st century, libraries must be prepared for

continuous change. The changes we face are in choosing from the many new forms of

media, developing librarians’ skills in the new technologies, and collaborating in regional

consortia to maximize access to information and control costs. (Mitchell, 2007, p. 8) "The


library grows to encompass the expanded knowledge. As new media emerge, the library

expands. As we have more resources, we gain new patrons, who demand more

resources." (Simpson, 2008)

"It is a fact of life that the library is a growing organism if the library’s

staff is engaged in pursuing the other four laws. How we put our

knowledge to work - the knowledge we have of ourselves and of our users

- will determine our growth rate and the evaluation that society makes of

the importance of our contribution."(Cochrane, 1973, p. 134)

Conclusion

Ranganathan's Five Laws encompass the timeless mission of the library and the librarian.

He envisioned a far different future, and made his laws simple enough in their wording,

yet complex in meaning that they have stretched and promoted library work around the

world. He elaborated on these principles over time to explain how they applied to the

changing circumstances of the twentieth century. Ranganathan pointed out in his

discussions that a shopkeeper would not expect to keep his wares in closed cupboards and

expect them to sell. His Five Laws constitute the outline of a good business plan. The

product, customer, marketing, efficiency and growth are all specified. Ranganathan

promoted professional librarianship, inter-library loan functions and comprehensive

cross-referencing, all scalable for the small school library to the large city library. With

these laws as guides, libraries can thrive in the 21st century.


References

Chappell, H. M. (1976). The place of reference service in Ranganathan's theory of

librarianship. The Library Quarterly, 46(4), 378-396.

Cloonan, M. V. & Dove, J. G. (2005). Ranganathan online. Library Journal. 130(6), 58-

60.

Cochrane, P. A. (1973). Putting knowledge to work; an American view of Ranganathan's

five laws of library science. Delhi: Vikas Pub. House.

Mitchell, W.B. (2007). Reflections on academic libraries in the 21st century. Journal of

Access Services, 5(1/2), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/15367960802197509

Nitecki, J. Z. (1975). Public interest and the theory of librarianship. In B. McCrimmon,

(Ed.) American library philosophy: An anthology (pp. 172-190). Hamden, CT:

Shoe String Press.

Ranganathan, S. R. (1960). Library manual, for library authorities, librarians, and

honorary library workers (2d ed.). New York: Asia Publishing House.

Ranganathan, S. R. (1988). The five laws of library science (Ed.2 reprinted ed.).

Bangalore New Delhi: Sarada Ranganathan Endowment for Library Science.


Sayers, F. C. (1975). The Belligerent Profession. In B. McCrimmon, (Ed.), American

library philosophy: An anthology (pp. 132-140). Hamden, CT: Shoe String Press.

Shores, L. (1975). A Philosophy of Librarianship. In. B. McCrimmon, (Ed.), American

library philosophy: An anthology (pp.211-228) Hamden, CT: Shoe String Press.

Simpson, C. (2008). Editor's Notes. Library Media Connection, 26(7), 6-6.

Summit, R. (1998). Knight-ridder and online information. Pioneers of Information

Science Scrapbook, from http://www.libsci.sc.edu/bob/isp/summit2.htm

http://www.libsci.sc.edu/bob/isp/summit2.htm

ranganathans five laws and the modern library

Documents