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Foundation of Library and Information Science

Notes 1.5 Functions of Library

Quality, but not the quantity, of service enhances the prestige and usefulness of a library. Unless
the national library is allowed to concentrate on the function, the nation will fail to conserve for
posterity a complete collection of its recorded information. The studies, research and development
on all national subjects will certainly deteriorate in their quality unless a country has a complete
collection of information on that specific region and its ancient thoughts. A library is also the
only centre to which, normally all requests for information about the nation will be addressed
not only from inside but also from outside the country. So a library, which does not have
accessibility to the complete collection of recorded information about the nation, will be a
disgrace to the country. A country like India with limited resources and huge collections of its
own, recorded knowledge on all branches of knowledge should build up its library only as a
special collection on the nation. That is, a complete collection of documents originating in the
country and documents on the country, originating elsewhere. The functions of library are as
follows:
To acquire and conserve the whole of the national production of documents utilizing the
existing library facilities fully.
To collect all the documents concerning that nation published throughout the world,
irrespective of language of publication.

To build up a complete collection, self-sufficient on all aspects, of all subjects related to its
country.

To store information on the nation, minutely and fully catalogued; classified and arranged
which should be capable of answering any enquiry about the country.
To take the full responsibility for ensuring that a copy of the whole of national production
of documents is preserved in its original form. It does not matter whether it is stored in
one place or at different institutions. A library is also responsible for compiling and
publishing national bibliographies; current and retrospective, and coordinating
bibliographical work in general.

To provide facilities to enable a required document, an extract or information, translated
into the regional language of a user if required.
To extend its services to all the citizens of the country. It should be organized in such a way
that people from all over the country find no difficulty in approaching it.
To provide information about its collection and the ways of using it through all educational
and cultural institutions of the nation.
To enable the people to use the national library through all other institutions from any
part of the country.

To provide leadership among the nation’s libraries. It should coordinate co-operative
activities between the public libraries, university libraries and special libraries for
dissemination of knowledge.

To be responsible for ensuring that a country gets all foreign literature it requires, especially
on the latest developments in the fields of science and technology without any time gap.

To display permanent and changing exhibitions of collections to the public, including
borrowed collections.
To provide cultural, literary and educational activities, geared towards the general public
as well as specific audiences, including students.

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