Page 29 - DLIS001_FOUNDATION_OF_LIBRARY_AND_INFORMATION_SCIENCE

Foundation of Library and Information Science

Notes Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
4. The first law has several …………….. for library work.
5. The staff should always remember that everything that they do in the library is a means
towards an end and the end is service to ……………………...
6. The …………………… should be attractive and comfortable so that users will feet tempted
to frequent the library.

2.3 Second Law “Every Reader His/Her Book”

Every reader his/her book is the Second Law of library science. A variant of this law is, “Books
for All”. This law stands for the mandatory provision of library service to each according to his
need. Every reader of a library should have the books he wants. It advocates the universalisation
and democratisation of library service. In the earlier days, only a privileged few belonging to
the aristocracy and the upper classes of society were given access to libraries and books. The
masses were kept out. But with the advent of democracy, which ensured participation of every
citizen in governance, the position drastically changed. Democracy, for its sustenance and survival,
needs an educated, knowledgeable and responsible citizenry. So, education and the acquisition
of knowledge, through whatever institution possible, became a basic right of all citizens without
any distinction whatsoever. Hence the law, “Every Reader His/Her Book” or ‘Books are for all.’

2.3.1 Implications of the Second Law

Education for all means books for all. Education and acquisition of knowledge becomes a basic
right for every citizen. This imposes certain obligations on the state, the library authorities, the
library staff and the users. The second law imposes certain obligations on the state, the library
authority of the state, the library staff and the reader.
(a) Obligation of the State: It is an obligation of the state to develop and maintain a library
system that is capable of providing adequate library service to all the people, This is
preferably done through legislation which should make provision for the financial support
of the library system and the coordination of the activities of its different units. A goal
should be set for the type of library system and services best suited for a society and the
legislation should be so framed that it would serve as an effective means for achieving the
goal. Finance is always a bottleneck for library development and the aim should be to
derive the maximum output in the form of library services with the available limited
financial input.

Notes The library system envisaged here through legislation is a public library system
which is available for use by all. But a public library system by itself will not be able to
make available to every reader the books that he wants. In fact as far as students, teachers
and researchers are concerned; its role in fulfilling the Second Law would be marginal.
Therefore, the state has also the responsibility of establishing other types of libraries like
school libraries, college libraries, university libraries and special libraries.
(b) Obligation of the Library Authority: As far as the library authority is concerned, its
obligations necessitated by the Second Law are mostly in respect of (a) choice of books,
and (b) choice of staff.

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