MOUDLE-1: Fundamental of

Library Science
 Library as a Social
Institution
A library is not merely a storehouse of books; it is a dynamic social
institution created by society to serve its educational, informational, and
cultural needs. It functions as a centre for the preservation and
dissemination of human knowledge.

1. Characteristics as a Social Institution

 A Product of Society: The library exists because society requires a

collective centre to preserve its history, literature, and scientific
discoveries.

 Educational Role: It acts as a "People’s University," supporting

both formal education (schools/colleges) and informal lifelong
learning for all citizens regardless of age or status.

 Cultural Preservation: It safeguards the cultural heritage and

intellectual output of a community, ensuring that the wisdom of the
past is available to future generations.

 Information Hub: It serves as a vital link in the communication of

information, helping individuals make informed decisions in their
personal and professional lives.

2. Social Functions of the Library

 Promotion of Literacy: Libraries play a crucial role in eradicating

illiteracy by providing easy access to reading materials and
organizing literacy programs.

 Democratic Values: By providing free and equal access to

information, libraries support the democratic process, ensuring that
every citizen has the "Right to Know."

 Neutrality and Inclusivity: As a social institution, the library

remains a neutral ground where diverse ideas can coexist, serving
all members of the community without discrimination.

 Recreation and Leisure: It provides healthy avenues for the

creative use of leisure time through literature, arts, and community
events.

3. The Library and Social Change

The library is an agent of social change. By providing access to new ideas
and global perspectives, it helps in the social, economic, and intellectual
upliftment of society. It adapts its services—moving from physical books to
digital resources—to meet the evolving needs of the modern
"Information Society."

Purposes of a Library (E-I-C-

S-R)
The primary purpose of a library is to serve as a gateway to knowledge
and culture. It exists to fulfil several key objectives for the individual and
the community:

1. Educational Purpose

 Support for Formal Education: To provide necessary books,

journals, and digital resources to students and teachers in schools,
colleges, and universities.

 Self-Education (Informal): To enable individuals to continue their

education independently throughout their lives, acting as a "Life-
Long University."

 Promotion of Literacy: To provide easy-to-read materials and

guidance to help neo-literates maintain and improve their reading
skills.

2. Informational Purpose

 Dissemination of Information: To collect, organize, and provide

access to up-to-date information on all subjects, including science,
technology, and current affairs.

 Research Support: To provide specialized resources and reference

services to researchers and scholars to help them discover new
knowledge.

3. Cultural Purpose

 Preservation of Heritage: To collect and safeguard books,

manuscripts, and records that represent the cultural and intellectual
history of a society.
  Cultural Awareness: To organize programs, exhibitions, and
lectures that promote an appreciation for the arts, literature, and
history.

4. Social and Democratic Purpose

 Free and Equal Access: To ensure that information is not a

privilege of the few, but a right for all, regardless of rank, creed, or
wealth.

 Neutral Ground: To provide a space where diverse ideas can be

explored and where citizens can become informed participants in a
democracy.

5. Recreational Purpose

 Healthy Leisure: To provide materials for "light reading" (such as

fiction, travelogues, and biographies) and audio-visual materials for
entertainment and relaxation.

Types of Libraries
Modern libraries require "modifiers" to define their specific missions:

 Public Library: A "free" institution focused on information and

recreation for all people.

 Academic Library: Focused on scholarly communication,

education, and research within a larger institution.

 Special Library: A key management point for information relevant

to a specific organization's growth (e.g., law firms, industrial firms).

 Other Kinds: Includes national libraries, government libraries, and

administrative libraries.

Public Library
 Definition: Established from public funds to serve the local general
public; it is essentially a "service library" (Ranganathan).

 Legal Mandate: UNESCO states it should be established under a

clear mandate of law to ensure nation-wide service.
  Social Role: A democratic institution demonstrating faith in
universal, lifelong education. It acts as a "cultural centre" for the
perfection of the individual and society.

Core Objectives:

 Education: Fosters individuality and personality development;

helps citizens acquire professional know-how.

 Information: Provides free access to correct information to solve

daily or work-related problems for both literate and illiterate
citizens.

 Culture: Acts as a primary centre for cultural life and appreciation

of the arts.

 Leisure & Recreation: Encourages active and healthy use of free

time through entertainment.

Modern Services:

 Links with schools and adult-education groups.

 Offers non-traditional services: Movies, musical programs, and

career counselling.

 Maintains traditional services: General reference, local history,

and archival records.

Academic Library
 Primary Focus: Concerned with the teaching and learning
processes of specific communities (students and teachers).

 Scope: Ranges from small school libraries to massive university

systems.

General Objectives:

 Serve curricular and general educational requirements.

 Provide appropriate reference materials and study areas.

 Maintain lending and active information services.

Specific Types of Academic Libraries:

A. School Library

 Goal: Enriches teaching with background material and builds the

habit of independent library use.
  Role: Acts as an "Instructional Materials Centre" using both
printed and non-printed media.

B. College Library

 Goal: Meets the needs of everyone from freshmen to senior

professors.

 Training: Teaches students how to use catalogues, bibliographies,

and indexes to prepare them for university-level research.

 Facilities: Includes micro-readers, viewing/listening stations, and

photocopying.

C. University Library

 Goal: The centre of the academic community; supports instructional

and research programs to produce community leaders and
discoverers.

 Collection: Comprehensive materials including theses,

dissertations, archives, government publications, and computer-
aided resources.

 Cooperation: Participates in inter-library lending and centralized

cataloguing.

Research Libraries & Learned Societies

 Definition: Libraries of societies (like the Asiatic Society) that

revolve around special areas of knowledge.

 Function: Highly specialized collections fashioned to meet the

specific research requirements of their committed area of interest.

Special Library
 Definition: Serves a "specialist clientele" within a single
establishment (scientific, medical, technical, etc.) working toward a
common purpose.

 Collection: Narrow in scope but deep in detail. Includes patents,

trademarks, standards, laboratory notebooks, and translations.

 The "Librarian's Role": Must be well-versed in the subject

specialty. They perform literature searches, provide abstracts, and
use computers for information retrieval.
National Library

 Definition: The "Apex Institution" and "Mausoleum of Cultural

Heritage" for a nation.

Objectives & Functions:

 Acquisition: Conserves the entire national production of printed

material through "Legal Deposit."

 Bibliography: Produces current and retrospective National

Bibliographies.

 Repository: Acts as a central register for manuscripts and a

repository for foreign publications.

 Network Hub: Functions as the centre for national inter-library

lending and research into library techniques.
Academic Libraries: In
Detail
Academic libraries are integrated into educational institutions to support
teaching and learning. They range from small school libraries to large
university systems.

 Common Goal: Regardless of size, all academic libraries aim to

meet the needs of both students (the taught) and teachers.

 General Objectives:

o Serve curricular, cultural, and general educational

requirements.

o Provide reference materials and study areas.

o Analyse reader needs to develop better services.

o Provide lending and active information services.

 The Librarian's Role: Must be familiar with educational theory and

current developments to align the library with the institution's goals.

1. School Libraries
The school library is designed to awaken reading habits and enlighten the
imaginative minds of young students.

 Objectives:

o Primary: Create a love for books and develop the habit of

reading.

o Secondary: Fulfil learning requirements for students and

teaching requirements for teachers.

o Guidance: Help students use the library for course

requirements, pleasure, and general knowledge.

 Collection:

o Primary level: Picture books, biographies, folk tales,

animal stories, children's magazines, and toys.
 o Secondary level: Textbooks, popular science, sports
books, fiction, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, and audio-
visual materials.

 Functions:

o Acts as an integral part of the school (not a substitute).

o Supplements classroom work and stimulates interest in

learning.

o Prepares "lifetime learners."

2. College Libraries
College libraries bridge the gap between school and advanced research,
serving everyone from freshers to senior professors.

 Objectives:

o Help students understand various disciplines and prepare for

advanced studies.

o Build confidence in using library tools (catalogues, indexes,

bibliographies) before they move to a university setting.

 Collection:

o A balanced mix of textbooks, advanced books for

teachers, travelogues, and learned periodicals.

o Equipment: Micro-readers, photocopying facilities, and

computer-aided learning materials.

 Functions:

o Assist the parent institution’s programs.

o Provide orientation programs on how to use the library.

o Arrange Inter-Library Loans and provide bibliographical

information to faculty.

3. University Libraries
Often called the "heart" or "soul" of the university, these are the
workshops for scholars and laboratories for the learned.
  Objectives:

o Support instructional and research programs.

o Inspire inventors, discoverers, and future community leaders.

o Six Pillars: Conservation of knowledge, Teaching, Research,

Publication, Extension service, and Interpretation.

 Collection:

o Deep and broad resources to support serious scholarship in all

subjects.

o Includes: Theses, dissertations, archives, government

publications, rare materials, and advanced computer
auxiliary machines.

 Major Functions:

o Access: Providing facilities like translation, typing, and

photocopying.

o Cooperation: Participating in centralized cataloguing and

inter-library lending.

o Conservation: Accumulating and organizing materials to

preserve knowledge.

o Interpretation: Assisting faculty and research staff in the

interpretative functions of the university.

History of National Library,

Kolkata
I. Historical Evolution (1835–1953)

The library evolved through several key stages, transitions of locations,

and legislative acts:

 1835–1836: The idea for the first public library in Calcutta was
conceived. The Calcutta Public Library opened at the residence of
Dr. F. P. Strong.

 1841–1844: Shifted temporarily to Fort William (1841), then

moved to Metcalfe Hall (1844).
  1902–1903: The Imperial Library Act was passed. Lord Curzon
merged the Calcutta Public Library with the Imperial
Secretariat Library to form the Imperial Library.

 1903: John Macfarlane (British Museum) became the first

librarian, followed by scholar Harinath De.

 1923–1942: Moved to Esplanade premises (1923). Due to

WWII exigencies, it was moved to Jaba-kusum House (1942).

 1948: By an Act of Parliament, it became the National Library. It

moved to Belvedere (former winter home of Viceroys).

 1953: Formally declared open to the nation by Maulana Abul

Kalam Azad on February 1st.

II. Infrastructure & Expansion

As the collection grew, the campus at Belvedere expanded:

 Main Building: Original residence at Belvedere.

 9-Storied Annexe: Completed in 1966.

 Prashasan Bhavan: Three-storied administrative building

completed in 1989.

 Bhasha Bhavan: Foundation stone laid for this specialized building.

III. Governance & Objectives

The library is under the Ministry of Human Resource Development

(Dept. of Culture).

 Leadership: Managed by a Director (overall charge), assisted by

two professional Librarians, Deputy Librarians, and Administrative
Officers.

 The Jha Committee (1969): Under Shri V. S. Jha, this committee

established the library's core mandates:

1. Acquisition/conservation of national printed material.

2. Collecting foreign material concerning India.

3. Acquiring national manuscripts.

4. Providing bibliographical/documentation services.

5. Acting as a referral centre and participating in international

book loans.

6. Providing photocopying and reprographic services.

IV. Organizational Structure

The library is divided into three functional branches:

1. Professional Divisions: Handle acquisition, processing, and reader

services.

2. Conservation Divisions: Include preservation, laboratory, and

reprography (microfilming/copying).

3. Administrative Divisions: Handle personnel, security, and

building maintenance.

V. The Collection (Nearly 20 Lakh Books)

The library builds its massive archive through five primary channels:

1. Delivery of Books Act (1954/56): Legally receives one copy of

every book and periodical published in India.

2. Purchase: Focuses on standard reference works, rare books, and

international publications about India.

3. Gifts: Includes famous private collections like the Sir Asutosh

Mukhopadhyay and Jadunath Sarkar collections.

4. Exchange: Maintains relations with 170 institutions across 56

countries.

5. Depository: Serves as a repository for United Nations documents

and foreign government publications.

VI. Professional Services

 Technical Processing: Uses AACR-II (Cataloguing), Library of

Congress Subject Headings, and Dewey Decimal Classification
(16th-19th editions).

 Reader Services: * 12 reading rooms (Main room fits 320 readers).

o Hours: 9 AM to 8 PM on working days.

o Lending: Provides books to the public and participates in

international IFLA loans.

 Bibliography: Compiles the Indian National Bibliography on-site.

 Reprography: Provides microfilms and xeroxes of research material

at nominal rates.

VII. Future Modernization Projects

 Phased computerization of library records and information retrieval.

 Development of a National Union Catalogue (a central record
for all major Indian libraries).

 Creation of a Library of Microforms.

 Monitoring National Book Production Statistics and allocating ISBN

numbers.
Five Laws of Library Science
Ranganathan's "Five Laws of Library Science" is the epitome of the
operational philosophy of librarianship. He has developed all the rules of
library organisation and management, as the necessary implications and
inevitable corollaries of his five laws.

First Law: Books are for use

 Historical Context: Historically, books were often chained to

shelves and preserved rather than used; they were seen as items
for preservation rather than tools for furthering knowledge.

 Modern Evolution: The first law led to the removal of chains,

providing access first to a favoured few, then to those who could
pay, and finally offering free lending to all.

 Library Location: To maximize use, a library should be situated in

a busy, central, and easily accessible place within the community.

 Environment and Staff: The law demands a congenial

environment with comfortable furniture. Library staff should possess
professional competence, amiable manners, and a missionary zeal
to serve readers.

Second Law: Every reader his book

 User Focus: This law approaches librarianship from the perspective

of the user and presupposes the concept of "Education for All".

 Obligations: Ranganathan examines this law through four

categories of obligation:

1. The State: Responsible for finance, legislation, and

coordination.

2. Library Authority: Responsible for the choice of books and

staff.

3. Library Staff: Responsible for knowing both the readers and

the books to discharge duties efficiently.

4. The Reader: Should view library rules as an aid and respect

the rights of other users.

Third Law: Every book its reader

  Finding the Reader: This is a complement to the second law,
ensuring an appropriate reader is found for every book.

 Implementation: This is achieved through the open access

system, classified shelf arrangement (by subject), analytical
cataloguing, and library publicity.

 Reference Service: The law requires human "canvassing agents"

in the form of reference staff to help popularize the collection and
initiate contact between reader and book.

Fourth Law: Save the time of the reader

 Time Efficiency: This law focuses on the "subjective time" of the

reader—the painful delay felt while waiting for books or navigating
complex systems.

 Solutions: To save time, libraries should use open access, provide

efficient stackroom guides, use analytical cross-reference cards, and
maintain simple "two card" charging systems for quick issuing.

 Staff Routines: Proper organization of staff routines ensures that

the reader's time is prioritized during their visit.

Fifth Law: Library is a growing organism

 Evolutionary Nature: A library has the attributes of a growing

organism, with growth occurring in size, books, readers, and staff.

 Planning: Architecture must allow for future expansion of

stackrooms. Catalogues must use the card form (or digital
equivalents) to remain capable of unlimited expansion.

 Resource Adjustment: As readers and stock grow, there must be

a corresponding increase in reading room space, circulation
efficiency, and the provision of qualified staff across all sections
MOUDLE -2: Information
Sources, Searching
&Retrievals
I. Definition and
Introduction to Information
Sources
For the economic, scientific, technological and industrial development of
any nation, information sources are essential. The goal of the
information sources is to provide information that is valuable and valid so
that the decision taken by the user can be optimally beneficial.

Reference Sources

 Definition: Although a large number of reference books are

available that cover a variety of subjects, the term reference book is
frequently used for reference sources, serials, online databases or
the internet.

 Function: Reference sources such as dictionaries, encyclopaedias,

yearbooks, etc. provide answers to specific questions. They also
provide background information or direct to or refer to the additional
information sources.

 Organization: Information in reference sources is arranged

systematically, generally in alphabetical order, for easy and its quick
location.

Types of Reference Sources

1. General reference sources: These provide information on all

subjects and overview of topics.

2. References sources focused on a specific subject: These

provide more in-depth knowledge about a subject.

II. Documentary Sources

(Print & Digital)
Information sources can be broadly divided into two types: Documentary
sources (print and digital form) and non-documentary sources.
Documentary sources are formal sources consisting of written or recorded
information.

1. Primary Sources

 Definition: Primary sources are the first published records of

original research and development activities. They represent
unfiltered original ideas and are the original medium of scientific
communication.

 Characteristics:

 They are more current and up-to-date than any other sources.

 They present information in its original form, not interpreted

or condensed.

 They are often scattered and unorganized.

 Importance: They help researchers keep up-to-date, avoid

duplication in research, and generate further information.

 Examples: Periodicals/journals, Patents, Standards, Research

reports, Theses/dissertations, Trade literature, and Unpublished
documents (diaries, letters, lab notebooks).

2. Secondary Sources

 Definition: Secondary sources are the sources which are compiled

from the primary sources. They analyse, interpret and discuss
information about the primary sources.

 Functions: They organize primary sources in a convenient form and

serve as a bibliographical key to primary sources.

 Characteristics: Information is systematically arranged and easy

to consult. They generally do not contain original information.

 Examples:

 Encyclopaedias: A compendium of knowledge or "mines of

information" providing background info.

 Dictionaries: Provide meaning, spelling, and pronunciation of

words.

 Textbooks: Used for teaching and learning; provide

information in simplified forms.

 Indexes and Abstracts: Systematic guides to the

text/contents of documents. Abstracts include a concise
summary of the original work.
  Bibliographies: Systematically arranged lists of
books/documents.

3. Tertiary Sources

 Definition: Tertiary sources contain information distilled and

collected from primary and secondary sources.

 Function: Their main function is to help the researcher in the use of

primary and secondary sources of information. They act as a
bibliographic control device.

 Examples:

 Directories: Provide info on individuals, organizations, and

institutions (e.g., telephone directories).

 Almanacs: Annual publications containing astronomical,

factual, and statistical data.

 Yearbooks: Annual volumes of current information, facts, and

statistics of the preceding year.

 Bibliography of Bibliographies: Lists that direct readers to

useful bibliographies.

 Union Catalogues: Catalogues listing the holdings of two or

more libraries to facilitate inter-library loans.

III. Database Searching and

Retrievals
 Digital Formats: Modern libraries record information in various
types and forms, including digital documentary sources.

 Electronic Journals (e-journals): Published on the web and made

available to users through their library.

 Retrieval via Indexing: Now-a-days indexes are being produced

mechanically with the help of computers. By computerised method,
indexes can be generated quickly to allow location of documents.

 Database Function: The main function of abstracts and indexes is

to help retrospective searching of documents to cater to the
information needs of users.