Five laws of library science

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S. R. Ranganathan, considered by librarians all over the world to be the father of modern library science, proposed five laws of library science. Most librarians worldwide accept them as the foundations of their philosophy:

These laws are:

1. Books are for use.
2. Every person his or her book.
3. Every book its reader.
4. Save the time of the reader.
5. The library is a growing organism.

The laws have been widely quoted in the profession.

[edit] Variants

In 1998, librarian Michael Gorman (past president of the American Library Association, 2005-2006), recommended the following laws in addition to Ranganathan's five in his small book, "Our Singular Strengths":

1. Libraries serve humanity.
2. Respect all forms by which knowledge is communicated.
3. Use technology intelligently to enhance service.
4. Protect free access to knowledge.
5. Honor the past and create the future.

In 2004, librarian Alireza Noruzi recommended applying Ranganathan's laws to the web in his paper, "Application of Ranganathan's Laws to the Web":

1. Web resources are for use.
2. Every user his or her web resource.
3. Every web resource its user.
4. Save the time of the user.
5. The Web is a growing organism.

[edit] External links

• Full text of Ranganathan's The Five Laws of Library Science, Madras Library Association, 1931 at dLIST.
• Ranganathan's explanation of his five laws is viewable online. (This page is a fictional first-person essay written for a library science project at the University of British Columbia.)