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Unit 2: Laws of Library Science

Notes
Did u know? Ranganathan at first formulated the statement of four laws only, Laws 2-5 in
the present state. The first law emerged last from the casual hint provided by his professor
E. B. Ross.

2.1.1 Need of the Laws of Library and Information Science

In the past, before the formulation of library science laws there was no evidence of an overall
view of libraries. It looked as if future development were totally unpredictable. By proposing
the laws Ranganathan solved the problem. The basic needs of the laws of library science are
given below:

Give Pressure at the Subconscious Level to Work: Scientific methods are applicable equally
in both natural and social sciences. The only difference lies in the status of the basic
principles. These were hypotheses in the natural science and normative principles in the
social sciences.

Helps Library Science to Become an Independent Subject: A subject cannot stand in its
position unless some fundamental laws are not attached to it, so by proposing the laws
Ranganathan put the first stone in this direction.
Denote Library Practices: Laws of library science contain in a latest form all the library
practices of the past and the present and those which are likely to be evolved in the future.
Serve as a Higher Court: These laws are applicable to any problem in the areas of library
science, library service and library practice.

Example: In case of conflict between canons, an appeal is made to the five laws of library
science to resolve the conflict.
Boundary Condition: Laws of library science locate the boundary condition within which
the librarian might work.

2.1.2 Usefulness of the Five Laws

Usefulness of the five laws is as follows:
Act as Fundamental Laws: The five laws of library science are fundamental laws of library
and information science and are applicable to any problem in the areas of library science,
library service and library practice. Five laws are guiding norms; these are the verified
principles applicable everywhere in the library world.
Help in Deriving Canon, Principles and Postulates: With the help of these five laws of
Library Science we can derive canons, principles and postulates applicable in different
fields of library and information science. These fundamental laws will serve as a source of
inspiration and guidance in the years to come.
Resolve Conflict Between Cannons: The laws of library science help in solving any conflict
that may arise during the functioning of libraries. The five laws serve as a higher court.

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Caution So in case of conflict between canons of cataloguing, classification etc., an appeal
is made to the five laws of library science to resolve the conflict.

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