In the book "Our singular strengths: meditations for librarians" (ALA, 1998), Michael Gorman, one of the leading voices in contemporary librarianship, speaks and encourages librarians through 144 meditations/reflections. Included in the books is "The five laws of library science: then & now," which is a very interesting material to reflect on for a librarian astride two different schools of librarianship--the traditional and the hi-tech. In it Gorman succinctly explains each of S. R. Ranganathan's laws of library science and caps each with a single-statement resolution for the practicing librarian. He does the same with the new laws that he has formulated. Briefly, Ranganathan's five laws are:
- Books are for use.
- Every book its reader.
- Every reader his book.
- Save the time of the reader.
- The library is a growing organism.
- Libraries serve humanity.
- Respect all forms by which knowledge is communicated.
- Use technology intelligently to enhance service.
- Protect free access to knowledge.
- Honor the past and create the future .
Three Take-out Points
If I must take out just three points from Gorman's material, I would encapsulate them to these three phrases:
1. A world gone smaller, a library gone wild.
2. A balance of the old and the new.
3. A relationship redefined.
A world gone smaller, a library gone wild. Not in the negative sense, "wild" here is meant to be taken in a positive light. I mean to say here that the library (and its users) are in a celebratory mode because technology has made it possible to reach out to as many library users as technologically-possible as well as making library materials more accessible and more plentiful.
A balance of the old and the new. The library must not be a museum, but, it must learn to see the value in old materials and keep them. However, it must take care not to accept all new things because they are new. As Gorman would say, "Wise people will understand the past of libraries, know why they are what they are today, and build a future based on tradition and innovation."
A relationship redefined. The librarian-library user relationship has been redefined with the presence of social networking sites and other web technologies. These developments have made it possible to cross checkout counters and static library hours. And the librarian can use these to enhance service and serve humanity in a better way.
Implications
Choosing to launch this blog with M. Gorman's retake of S. R. Ranganathan's laws of library science has been a conscious choice. I wanted to find a material that would help me think and articulate my take on the the print vs digital debate. A librarian astride two schools of librarianship ought not to feel the tension of two opposing forces as this can be experienced as two forces that can work together.
Whether in academic libraries or in other library types, I believe that the driving agenda must be access and use. That the library user, potential or active, have access to and are able to use library materials are important considerations. Thus, I ought to learn how to value materials for their inherent and potential use, regardless of format, and must also learn to harness the power of today's technologies to benefit the community that I am in.
With growing demands for electronic access to library resources and other information, the library is pressed and poised to respond to the needs of the academic community, and the society. It is but prudent that I anchor my actions to the stability and wisdom of the past.
Reference
Gorman, M. (1998). The five laws of library science: then & now. In Our singular strengths: meditations
for librarians. Chicago, IL: ALA. (Excerpted from Book excerpt. School Library Journal, 1998 July).
No comments:
Post a Comment