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Unit 2: Laws of Library Science
Readers also should conduct themselves with a sense of responsibility. They should not try to Notes
shelve the books once taken out because in that process they are likely to misplace the books.
They should resist the temptation to misplace books deliberately, mutilate or steal books or
indulge in other unsocial activities.
Did u know? Open access, if practised in a balanced and orderly manner so that its advantages
outweigh the disadvantages, contributes to the fulfilment of the third law.
The advantages of open access to library shelves provide an opportunity to users to get access to
other books in the library kept along with the particular book in which the user may be interested.
In this process of browsing, he gets, not only more information about books in his field of
interest, but also in related fields. The opportunity of browsing is not available to a user in a
closed access library.
The disadvantages of open access are that books get quite often placed on shelves by readers.
This may deny other users the benefit of browsing. Unsocial activities, such as tearing pages
from books, stealing or deliberate hiding of books may cause problems. Although, this unsocial
behaviour of some users can be controlled, it cannot be totally eliminated. However, the
advantages of open access, viz., meeting a primary objective of library service, outweigh the
disadvantages.
2.4.2 Implications – Services
Following are the implications of services in library science:
Lists of New Additions: A list of books newly added to the library should be regularly
compiled and distributed. This will be helpful in bringing such books to the notice of their
potential users.
Display of New Books: The newly added books should be displayed prominently in the
library so that they catch the attention of readers and are read by those who are interested
in them.
Book Exhibition: Periodical exhibitions of books, which have a bearing on topical themes
also, enhance the chances of books finding their readers. Even with the best attention paid
to book selection, there are bound to be books remaining unused in a library. This may be
partly due to the fact that the books do not come to the notice of readers. So an occasional
exhibition of such unused books might prove useful in their catching the attention of
readers and in getting used.
2.4.3 Implications – The Library Catalogue
Like the second law, the third law also demands a well-designed catalogue, meeting all the
approaches of readers through added entries and by reference service.
Self Assessment
Fill in the blanks:
10. ……………….. in unused books is a dead investment and a waste.
11. Readers also should conduct themselves with a sense of ………………..
12. The opportunity of ………………….. is not available to a user in a closed access library.
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