Ranganathan’s laws in a nutshell

By Shorba Harku

Librarians ought to be familiar with the name Ranganathan. For those not, let me break it down for you. Dr Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan (1892-1972) was an Indian librarian and mathematician. His most notable contribution to the field of librarianship were his five laws of library science which encapsulates a library's function and purpose. The five laws are:

1. Books are for use

2. Every reader, his/her book

3. Every book, its reader

4. Save the time of the reader

5. The library is a growing organism

While these laws appear rudimentary, they capture the essential meaning and convey a deep understanding of libraries (Leiter, 2003). Though these laws originally focused on physical libraries, they are still relevant in this digital age. 

Brief explanation of the five laws

Books are for use

This law encapsulates the essence of libraries.  This law pertains to the organization of the library’s collection and the promotion of its resources (Leiter, 2003). Think about the physical arrangement of books according to a library classification system or the arrangement of online resources that will be easily accessible by users.

Every reader, his/her book

The second law speaks mainly to the areas of acquisitions and collection development (Rimland, 2007). This law has financial implications for the library. The fundamental issue it reveals is weighing the cost of materials against the basic right of all persons to have access to the materials they need. To counteract this, Leiter (2003) maintains that a library needs to formulate policies to ensure that its collection is adequate to fulfill the expectations of its users.

Every book, its reader

This law addresses the issue of access. Especially in this digital age, this law highlights the importance of providing access to a wide range of online resources. UKZN libraries subscribe to and provide access to online databases, e-journals and e-books to meet the needs of researchers and students, as well as provide services such as interlibrary loans and open access initiatives.

 

Save the time of the reader

This rule emphasizes the efficiency in information access and delivery. Technology has assisted librarians in this role. The use of online catalogues and online databases means that the user has access to information at the click of a button. At UKZN the intercampus loans option means that users do not have to travel to other campuses to obtain a certain book.

The library is a growing organism

This law encapsulates the need for libraries to adjust to the constantly changing requirements of its users. This means that library practices and procedures need to adapt to new technologies and user expectations.

 In conclusion, while Ranganathan’s laws were formulated in the early twentieth century, his basic principles are timeless as they provide an important framework for understanding the role of libraries in society. Furthermore, his laws provide us with a renewed appreciation and perspective on our work as librarians (Leiter, 2003).

References

Leiter, R. A. 2003. Reflections on Ranganathan’s five laws of library science. Law Library Journal, 95, 411–418.

Rimland, E. 2007. Ranganathan's relevant rules. Reference and User Services Quarterly, 46, 24-27.