Dr Asha Rani
“Library is the heart of
Educational institutions.
Well-functioning heart keep the
Body healthy & lively. Efficient
Library creates healthy
Educational atmosphere”.
Dr. S. R. Ranganathan
In India, just three days before we celebrate Independence Day, Indians celebrate Librarian Day throughout the country on the 12th of August every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Shayali Ramamrita Ranganathan, who is known as the Father of Library Science in India. Padamashri Dr. Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan Ayyar, commonly named as Dr. S. R. Ranganathan, was born on Aug.9, 1892 at Shiyali (Madras State), Tanjavoor District of Tamil Nadu, India. His birth anniversary is officially celebrated on 12th August as Librarian’s Day throughout India. He was a former University Librarian of Madras University Library and he is the notable alumni of the University of Madras and he joined as University Librarian in the year 1924. Dr. S. R. Ranganathan, a true disciple of Library Science, a proud philosopher and guide to thousands of library professionals in India. Dr. S. R. Ranganathan, the Father of Library Science and Father of Library Movement in India, an Author, Academician, Mathematician, Librarian and a Classificationist regarded as a key figure in the 20th century librarianship. Dr. S.R. Ranganathan was a pioneer who brought Library Science Education in India and prepared curriculum for Library Science education.
He formed the principles of librarianship into five basic statements known as five laws of Library Science, first published in the book form in 1931. These laws have remained a Centre piece of professional value. These laws resulted in idealistic statements that govern library science philosophy:
* First law – books are for use.
* Second law – Every reader his/her book.
* Third law – Every book its reader.
* Fourth Law – Save the time of user.
* Fifth Law – A library is a growing organism.
Five laws of Library Science in the Context of Digital Libraries:-
* Digital Objects are for Use.
* Every user his/her Digital Object.
* Every Digital Object its User.
* Save the time of the User.
* Digital Library is a Growing Organism.
The five laws of Digital Library help to identify the digital library as a powerful inspiration for technological educational and social change. These laws are applicable to the today’s digital era. These laws are not only applicable to the digital library in general but characterize the establishment, enhancement and evaluation of online databases and digital library services as well. The five laws concisely represent the ideal service and organizational philosophy of the digital library. Software and many more that is the essential of today’s Internet and tomorrows universally accessible digital repositories of all human knowledge.
Some of major contributions of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan are as follows:-
* On 3rd January 1928, he founded Madras Library Association and in 1929 he started the School of Librarianship of the Madras Library Association.
* In 1930 he drafted Model Library Act and in 1931 drafted first Library Bill for Bengal.
* The Summer School in Library Science at the University of Madras with a Certificate course in Library Science was started in 1931,which latter on became the Department of Library Science of the University where he started Diploma Course in 1937 to 1960 and Degree course in1961.
* In 1933 he framed the constitution of the Indian Library Association and enrolled himself as the first Life Member of the Association.
* In 1936 he drafted the First Library Bill for Madras.
* Drafted second Model Library Bill for the Indian Library Association and Development Plan and Library Bill for University of Delhi in 1942.
* From 1944 to 1953 he remained President of Indian Library Association
* In 1950 he formed Library Research Circle at New Delhi.
” Drafted Library Development Plan and library bill in 1946 for Allahabad University, Nagpur University, Central Province and Berar, in 1947 for Cochin, Travancore, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, UP, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and in 1948 for University of Bombay.
* From 1953 to 1956 he remained Vice-President of FID; in 1953 Vice-President of Indian Adult Education Association and in 1958 founded MP Library Association.
* From 1958 to 1959, he remained Chairman of Library Committee, University Grants Commission, New Delhi and in 1960 Chairman, Review Committee on Library Science, University Grants Commission. It is due to his efforts that the Grades and designations of Librarian, Deputy Librarian and Assistant Librarian are at par with Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor respectively.
The major/ marvelous works by Dr. Ranganathan are:
Colon Classification Scheme (1933), Classified Catalogue Code (1934), Prolegomena to Library Classification (1937), Elements of Library Classification (1945), Classification and Communication (1951), Headings and Canon (1955). In addition to these, he also wrote treatises on library administration and library manuals, book selection, etc. For almost two decades, i.e., from 1924 to 1944, the University Library remained as his Karam Bhumi where he experimented, developed and implemented his ideas for the betterment of library services. Although Dr. Ranaganathan resigned from the librarianship of Madras University in 1944, he contributed Rs. 1 lac from his own savings to establish a teaching department in Library and Information Science at Madras University in 1957. Not only this, he also helped the university in establishing the Sarada Ranganathan Chair in Library Science in 1959, which was the first Professorship in Library Science in the British Commonwealth. After his resignation from the post of librarian at the University of Madras, he accepted the assignment of librarianship and professor of Library Science at the Hindu University of Varanasi (Banaras) and worked there from 1945 to 1947. From 1947 to 1954, he worked as a professor of Library Science at the University of Delhi and helped the university in starting a department of Library Science. In addition to these, Dr. Ranganathan also helped and advised the Government of India in establishing state-of-the-art institutes like the Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre (INSDOC now NISCAIR) in 1952 and the Documentation Research and Training Centre (DRTC) in 1962. He was a founding member and chairman of the first Advisory Committee of INSDOC. He established the DRTC centre at the Indian Statistical Institute at Bangalore and remained associated with it for the rest of his life.
Over his lifetime, he wrote over 2000 research papers, 60 books and founded and edited five periodical publications. He also drafted plans for a national and several state library systems, founded and edited several journals, and was active in numerous professional associations. The Government of India awarded Padmashri to Dr. S. R. Ranganathan in 1957 for valuable contributions to Library Science. Also in 1965 he was honoured by the Indian Government with the title of National Research Professor in Library Science. India will always be grateful to Dr. S. R. Ranganathan for his efforts and every year Librarians all across the country celebrate “Librarian’s Day” on his birthday.
(The author is from Faculty Library, R.S.Pura-SKUAST-Jammu)
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