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Library and Information Society

Notes Books are for Use

The father of library science in India propounded the five laws of library science in 1931. The first
law is that books are for use. It is imperative to ensure library patrons use the materials we select
and purchase for them. Libraries are not just about storing books, they are about people having
access to books. This is something Ranganathan made clear in his own discussion of the first law
(Ranganathan 1988). His talks and writings emphasize the preservation of information and
knowledge to be as important as access to information and knowledge. Undoubtedly, both
preservation and access are important, and the availability of digital technologies that
Dr. Ranganathan could only have dreamt of have a vital role to play in preservation and access.
Librarianship is now blessed to have the opportunity of making knowledge available through
digitization, but digitization can best be justified by focusing on the priorities laid down in the first
law. The first law is also forward-thinking in its emphasis on the library’s location. Increasingly we
are seeing libraries sited, or even relocated, in more accessible locations in order to increase custom.
There is debate among library professionals on the issue of merging of public libraries with other
services, such as sports centers, or moving the library to main thoroughfares rather than outlying
parts of the community.

The implication of first law of library science in marketing library is the emphasis on
the optimum use of resources, facilities, and services. Convenient location, effective
signage, and longer opening hours; helping hands for using resources and services
are all important.

Every Reader his/her Book
The second law, “every reader his or her book,” means that we all have diverse interests and that
there is a book out there to satisfy each of us. The core need is to fight for the right of users to
information of all kinds, the consistent battle against censorship and inequality of access that has
governed civilisation since its inception. Our duty is to help users find the information they require
and ensure any blocks in the way are not blocks we have created. Barring access to knowledge is
totally against the philosophy of Dr. Ranganathan’s law. In fact, the second law provides roots to
the freedom to access information and knowledge in the forms of writings of all kinds, and to be
informed on topics that others may wish to suppress. The second law reminds us to be impartial in
our dealings with users. The implication of the second law in marketing the library is to meet user
needs satisfactorily by collecting and interpreting information, understanding the needs of users,
and matching the needs with its resources. The library should develop its collection keeping in
mind the present and future requirements of its users. The library collection should be a mix of old
and rare material as well as of the latest material reflecting advances in various fields.

Every Book its Reader
The third law: every book its reader (Ranganathan, 1988) advocates easy access to materials, and
one way to do so is by putting people together with what they require. Putting books into the hands
of people who do not necessarily know what they need is also at the heart of the third law. We
could interpret reader development as being part of the third law, since we promote books to users
that may not be known to them and that may offer opportunities for enrichment that other titles do
not. Historically, reference work has been identified within the third law, and this continues to be
the case in the virtual library. Virtual reference services continue to grow in popularity in both
academic and public libraries. Libraries and information centres are launching virtual enquiry
services through their websites. They are accepting models created for this purpose by world-
renowned libraries, especially university libraries. These are exciting developments, focused on

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