INRODUCTION

The term ‘library’ means different things to different people depending on

where they stand on the enlightenment spectrum. To some, it is a bookstore; a
building where books are kept for safe custody over-seen by a stern-looking
watchman in the name of a librarian, essentially ensuring that the books are not
tampered with unduly. To many, the library is a place of reading and studying;
where examination-writing candidates make their second homes to read their
textbooks and notebooks in preparation. This explains why many libraries have
seasonal uses as their patrons have a well-known pattern of visits and usage,
which are at the designated examination periods. Only a few others conceive of
the library as an organization of information resources meant for use.

“THE ONLY THING THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO KNOW, IS THE LOCATION OF
THE LIBRARY- ALBERT EINSTEIN

DEFINITION OF LIBRARY
The term “library” derives from the Latin word ‘Liber’ (i.e. book); equating the
library with an assemblage of books in a room or as a bookstore; as others would
conceive of it, have remained largely untenable.

Defining Library by different authors :

 Ranganathan, in his Five Laws of Library Science, posited “books are for
use” as his very first. By this First Law emphasizing use, Ranganathan has
super-imposed the use (i.e. service) aspect of the library’s
responsibility/function above all others, more than anything else.

 By Shera to the effect that “an assembly of books is not a library, nor is a
library only a place where books are kept”.These two parameters, though
popular and commonly used in establishing what a library is, have become
inadequate to capture the real essence of a library. This is the point driven
home by Sharr in the opening remarks to his famous report when he
unequivocally declared that “a library is not a building as such, any more than
a hospital is a building. A quantity of books is not a library any more than a
quantity of drugs is a hospital”.
Even more elaborate and explicit is the approach adopted by Sharr in defining a
library as “an organization of one or more trained people who use carefully selected
and organized books, periodicals and other familiar materials as a means of giving
to those who may appropriately use it, to the fullest extent of their needs or desires,
the information, enrichment and delight which is to be had from the written words.”
 Olanipekun and Ifabiyi once described the library as “a collection of
information materials such as films, magazines, maps, manuscripts and
phonograph records) made available for use”7. The phrase “for use” in the
definition is of great import as “books and other information materials
brought together for other purposes do not necessary constitute a library”.
 Aguolu, defined a library as “collection of records of human culture in diverse
formats and languages, preserved organized and interpreted to meet broad and
varying needs of individuals for information, knowledge, recreation and
aesthetic enjoyment”.

Finally, possible interpretation and of the above definitions in a number of

ways demands that they are all taken together in the following ways:
1. That a library is a social instrument created to form a link in the
communication system that is to any society or culture. In other words,
communication should be seen as so indispensable that without it, there can
hardly be a society.
2. Even more so is that without some form of graphic records and a means for
their preservation, no culture can possibly endure.
3. In conclusion, it becomes apparent that from time to time, the library may
assume certain marginal functions, even though its basic purpose remain
generically the same, which is, serving as a link in the communication chain
that is concerned with the custody of recorded knowledge.

Thus, the library has been frequently referred to, albeit variously, as the “heart of
the institution”, “the mind of society” … “the only effective repository of ... the
racial memory”;a live depository of the cultural past and sustainer of the
intellectual activity that anticipates the future”.
 SR RANGNATHAN
Siyali Ramamrita Ranganathan (S.R.R.)[as a mathematician and
librarian from India.
His most notable contributions to the field were his five laws of
library science and the development of the first major faceted
classification system, the colon classification. He is considered
to be the father of library science, documentation,
and information science in India and is widely known throughout
the rest of the world for his fundamental thinking in the field. His
birthday is observed every year as the National Librarian's Day
in India.

The Five laws of library science is a theory proposed by S. R.

Ranganathan in 1931 detailing the principles of operating
a library system. Many librarians worldwide accept them as the
foundations of their philosophy.[1][2]
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.

“Every reader his or her book.

Every book its reader.”
― S.R. Ranganathan

“If you want to be a reference librarian, you must learn to overcome

not only your shyness but also the shyness of others!”
― S R Ranganathan

“Save the time of the reader, for it is valuable”

“A modern librarian, who has faith in the law “BOOKS ARE FOR USE”,
is happy when his readers make his selves constantly empty.It is the stay-
at-home volumes that perplex and depress him.
 Types of Libraries
Because no single library can contain the information sought by every
potential user, different types of libraries exist to serve different needs. Libraries
fall into six basic categories:
(1) public libraries, which serve all members of the
general public;
(2) school libraries, which serve students and faculty through the
high school level;
(3) college and university libraries, which serve students and
faculty in higher education;
(4) research libraries, which serve the needs of
advanced scholars;
(5) special libraries, which serve various organizations,
industries, and governmental agencies; and
(6) government libraries, which serve governmental departments and agencies, and
often the general public as well.

Public Libraries
All types of libraries, from very early times, have a common objective which
is collection, organization, preservation and dissemination of knowledge. The
library came into existence due to the felt needs of the society for an information
service mechanism. It has become a very important institution of the civilized
society. Public library, by preserving and transmitting from generation to
generation the recorded human experience on which all future activities are to be
based, plays a very important role in development. Public library system is an
integrated nationwide network of public libraries giving free library and
information services to one and all the citizens-literate or illiterate, rich or poor,
rural or urban.
Public libraries exist in most nations of the world and are often considered
an essential part of having an educated and literate population. In addition to print
books and periodicals, most public libraries today have a wide array of other media
including music CDs, computer software, movies on video tape, and DVD, as well
as facilities to access the Internet. Many public libraries also provide access to
digital books and music that can be downloaded directly to Mp3 players. Public
libraries may also provide other services, such as community meeting rooms,
story-times for infants, toddlers and children, or after-school programmes.
In person and on-line programmes for homework help, language learning
and other community service programs are common offerings. One of the most
popular programs offered in public libraries are summer reading programmes for
children, families, and adults. In rural areas, the local public library may have, in
addition to its main branch, a mobile library service, consisting of one or more
buses furnished as a small public library, serving the countryside according to a
regular schedule.
Public libraries are distinct from research libraries, school libraries, or other
special libraries in that their mandate is to serve the public's information needs
generally (rather than serve a particular school, institution, or research population).
Public libraries typically are lending libraries, circulating books and other materials
to the users. They also have non-circulating reference collections; typically focus
on popular materials such as popular fiction and videos, as well as educational and
non-fiction materials of interest to the general public. In the larger cities, they are,
to some extent, reference libraries as well and offer free access to on-line databases
with resources for business, healthcare, parenting, consumer education, career
counseling, and education.
Public libraries also provide materials for children, including books, videos
and DVDs, music CDs and other materials (fiction and nonfiction), often housed in
a special section. Child oriented websites with on-line educational games and
programmes, specifically designed for younger library users, are becoming
increasingly common. They may also provide services for other particular groups,
such as large print or Braille materials, young adult literature and other materials
for teenagers, or materials in other than the national language. Public libraries do
not work on their own but (ideally) in cooperation with other educational and
cultural institutions. In future it will become even more important for public
libraries to set up strategic partnerships. Often it is not possible for a public library
any more to fulfill its mission without partners.
Most public librarians provide reference and research help to the general
public, usually at a reference desk but can often be done by telephone interview.
As online discussion and social networking allow for remote access, reference is
becoming available virtually through the use of the Internet and e-mail. Depending
on the size of the library, there may be more than one desk; at some smaller
libraries all transactions may occur at one desk, while large urban public libraries
may employ subject-specialist librarians with the ability to staff multiple reference
or information desks to answer queries about particular topics at any time of the
day or night. Often, the children's section in a public library has its own reference
desk.
The School Library
School libraries serve elementary schools, middle schools, junior high
schools, and high schools. The main function of a school library is to support
various educational programmes and to develop students’ skills in locating and
using information. Teachers use school libraries to access information needed to
develop and support their classroom instructions. Students use the materials in
school libraries to perform their class work.

School libraries usually maintain collections in a variety of media. In

addition to books, magazines, and newspapers, they may contain photographs,
films, sound and video recordings, computers, CD-ROMs, games, and maps. Some
school libraries contain realia, or real artifacts such as various types of stones for
the study of geology. An increasing number of school libraries have computer labs
with computer workstations, software, and Internet connections. Because school
libraries often emphasize the variety of media in their collections, they are
sometimes referred to as library media centers. Most school libraries further
enhance their collections by becoming members of school library networks; this
allows them to share resources with libraries in other schools.

School librarians-sometimes called media specialists-select library materials

and offer instruction to promote access, delivery, and interpretation of information
(e.g. ensuring that their library’s collections contain information to assist students
in completing particular classroom assignments). They might also offer classes in
searching online catalogues for research materials. Once students locate materials,
school librarians might help them interpret the information contained in these
resources and apply it to their classroom assignments.

School librarians typically should have credentials in teaching as well as in

library science. This allows them to participate in school administration and
curriculum development in addition to managing their library duties. Students at
each educational level have unique needs and interests. Accordingly, libraries that
serve different school levels maintain different types of collections and offer a
different range of services.

Today’s school library media specialist (i.e. librarian) works with both
students and teachers to facilitate access to information in a wide variety of
formats, instruct students and teachers how to acquire, evaluate and use
information and the technology needed in this process, and introduces children and
young adults to literature and other resources to broaden their horizons. As a
collaborator, change agent, and leader, the school library media specialist
develops, promotes and implements a program that will help prepare students to be
effective users of ideas and information, a lifelong skill.
The Academic Library
Academic libraries are libraries that are hosted in post-secondary educational
institutions, such as colleges and universities. Their main function are to
provide support in research and resource linkage for students and
faculty of the educational institution. Specific course-related resources
are usually provided by the library, such as copies of textbooks and
article readings held on 'reserve' (meaning that they are loaned out only
on a short-term basis, usually a matter of hours). Some academic
libraries provide resources not usually associated with libraries, such as
the ability to check out laptop computers, web cameras, or scientific
calculators.

Academic libraries offer workshops and courses outside of formal,

graded coursework, which are meant to provide students with the tools
necessary to succeed in their programs.[122] These workshops may
include help with citations, effective search techniques, journal
databases, and electronic citation software. These workshops provide
students with skills that can help them achieve success in their
academic careers (and often, in their future occupations), which they
may not learn inside the classroom.

The academic library provides a quiet study space for students on

campus; it may also provide group study space, such as meeting
rooms. The library provides a "gateway" for students and researchers to
access various resources, both print/physical and digital.[123] Academic
institutions are subscribing to electronic journals databases, providing
research and scholarly writing software, and usually provide computer
workstations or computer labs for students to access journals, library
search databases and portals, institutional electronic resources, Internet
access, and course- or task-related software (i.e. word processing and
spreadsheet software). Some academic libraries take on new roles, for
instance, acting as an electronic repository for institutional scholarly
research and academic knowledge, such as the collection and curation
of digital copies of students' theses and dissertations.[124][125] Moreover,
academic libraries are increasingly acting as publishers on their own on
a not-for-profit basis, especially in the form of fully Open
Access institutional publishers.[126]
ACADEMIC LIBRARAIES IN INDIA:

 CENTRAL LIBRARY, IIT, BOMBAY.

 Maulana azad library
  Mysore university library
 Nehru memorial museum library.
 Sayaji rao gaekwad library
 SDM institutefor management development library
 University of rajasthan library

The Research Libraries

A research library is a collection of materials on one or more subjects. [138] A research
library supports scholarly or scientific research and will generally include primary as
well as secondary sources; it will maintain permanent collections and attempt to
provide access to all necessary materials. A research library is most often
an academic or national library, but a large special library may have a research
library within its special field, and a very few of the largest public libraries also serve
as research libraries
A research library can be either a reference library, which does not lend its holdings,
or a lending library, which does lend all or some of its holdings. Examples of
research libraries include the British Library, the Bodleian Library at Oxford
University and the New York Public Library Main Branch on 42nd Street in
Manhattan, State Public Scientific Technological Library of the Sibirian Branch of the
Russian Academy of Science.

National libraries
A national or state library serves as a national repository of information, and has the
right of legal deposit, which is a legal requirement that publishers in the country need
to deposit a copy of each publication with the library. Unlike a public library, a
national library rarely allows citizens to borrow books. Often, their collections include
numerous rare, valuable, or significant works. There are wider definitions of a
national library, putting less emphasis on the repository character.

The National Library on the Belvedere Estate in Alipore, Kolkata, is the largest
library in India by volume, 14th in the list of largest libraries, and India's library
of public record.
The National Library of India is the county’s largest library and the library of public
record. The library "operates under the national government’s Department of Culture
and is designated to collect, disseminate, and preserve all printed material produced
in India, and all foreign works published about the country—where ‘every work about
India…can be seen and read’" (Murray, 2009).
SPECIAL LIBRARIES
All other libraries fall into the "special library" category. Many private businesses and
public organizations, including hospitals, churches, museums, research laboratories,
law firms, and many government departments and agencies, maintain their own
libraries for the use of their employees in doing specialized research related to their
work. Depending on the particular institution, special libraries may or may not be
accessible to the general public or elements thereof. In more specialized institutions
such as law firms and research laboratories, librarians employed in special libraries
are commonly specialists in the institution's field rather than generally trained
librarians, and often are not required to have advanced degrees in specifically
library-related field due to the specialized content and clientele of the library.
Special libraries can also include women's libraries or LGBTQ libraries, which serve
the needs of women and the LGBTQ community. Libraries and the LGBTQ
community have an extensive history, and there are currently many libraries,
archives, and special collections devoted to preserving and helping the LGBTQ
community. Women's libraries, such as the Vancouver Women's Library or
the Women's Library @LSE are examples of women's libraries that offer services to
women and girls and focus on women's history.
Some special libraries, such as governmental law libraries, hospital libraries, and
military base libraries commonly are open to public visitors to the institution in
question. Depending on the particular library and the clientele it serves, special
libraries may offer services similar to research, reference, public, academic, or
children's libraries, often with restrictions such as only lending books to patients at a
hospital or restricting the public from parts of a military collection. Given the highly
individual nature of special libraries, visitors to a special library are often advised to
check what services and restrictions apply at that particular library
Special libraries are distinguished from special collections, which are branches or
parts of a library intended for rare books, manuscripts, and other special materials,
though some special libraries have special collections of their own, typically related
to the library's specialized subject area.
 PURPOSE OF LIBRARAY
The purpose of your school library is to help every member of your school community —
students, staff, families and whānau — gain new knowledge, skills and dispositions for
learning and personal development that they will use throughout their lives.

1) SCHOOL LIBRARIES IMPROVES STUDENT

OUTCOMES
Your school library encourages curiosity, innovation and problem-solving. It is
integral to the cultural and social life of the school. The school library is a central
point for all kinds of reading, cultural activities, access to information, knowledge
building, deep thinking and lively discussion
Your library’s collections, services and environment are all designed to help your
school meet its targets and goals for raising student achievement. Record your vision
and principles for managing your library in your school's library guiding documents
We hope that libraries will always exist as places for learners to find information,
resources, services, and instruction. But formats, technologies, learning needs, and
our schools are evolving. And so are students themselves. Our entire information and
communication landscapes have shifted — and this shift will only continue."
— Valenza & Johnston (October 2009)

i) Enriching teaching and learning programmes

The school library is uniquely positioned to take a school- and curriculum-wide view
of resourcing and technology for learning. Library staff are valuable members of
curriculum planning and instruction teams within the school. They have a broad
knowledge of inquiry models, information texts and tools, and literature to suit
students at all levels. They also work with individual staff and students to understand
their particular information or reading needs, then help them access the materials
they need.

The school library provides information and ideas that are fundamental to functioning
successfully in today's information and knowledge-based society. The school library
equips students with lifelong learning skills and develops the imagination, enabling
them to live as responsible citizens."
— International Federation of Library Association's (IFLA) Manifesto (1999

ii) Supporting literacy and reading

School libraries are places for learning and thinking. They play a key role in
supporting and developing literacy and the enjoyment of reading. As Joy Cowley
writes, 'A sanctuary, a mine of treasure, a house of maps to secret lives in secret
worlds … – the library became my other home.'
2) SCHOOL LIBRARY SPACES WELCOME PEOPLE
IN
The library’s physical and digital spaces connect readers and learners to their peers,
to others within the school and the wider community, or even globally. The library
welcomes people in and provides a safe space for them to be. This is true of both
the physical and virtual library environments.

With a flexible multi-use approach, your library’s physical space enables a range of
activities including quiet reading, study, collaboration, performance or community
events.

Online library services can change the way your school community accesses the
information resources, stories, technology and support it needs. They make these
things available beyond the school walls and the school day.

3) SCHOOL LIBRARIES BRING INFORMATION

TOGETHER
School libraries are unique but they're also part of a much wider information
landscape. The school library has connections with other libraries and can use them
to access information on behalf of your learners.

The benefits of these connections with other libraries include:

 providing access to more sources of print and digital materials to support

reading and inquiry learning
 offering support for whole families to improve reading and literacy skills, and
confidence
 improving achievement through involvement in other library programmes such
as public library Summer Reading initiatives which have been shown to
reduce the 'summer reading slide', increase literacy levels and help develop a
love of reading.
 WHY SCHOOL LIBRARIES MATTERS ?
School libraries matter because they can help every member of your school community gain
new knowledge, skills and dispositions for learning and personal development that they will
use throughout their lives.

The school library is a central hub supporting every student and staff member, as
well as parents and whānau. The library combines several elements — library staff,
resources, and space. Each of these plays an important part in supporting teaching
and learning. School libraries are most effective when these elements combine to
form an integrated whole.

An effective school library:

 improves student outcomes — collections developed for your unique school

community enrich reading and learning programmes
 welcomes people in — the library is a safe place, that values and includes
students from different cultures and backgrounds
 brings people and information together — connections with other libraries and
information sources enhance your library’s collections, and help your library
staff help users find what they need
 embodies the principles of ‘learner agency’ — students having the
independence to choose their own reading, and to find resources that help
them develop their interests and strengths at their own pace
 helps close the education gap — for students who might otherwise be
disadvantaged, the library can provide access to the stories, information, and
technology they need.
SCHOOL LIBRARIES FUTURE
 CONCLUSION
A library in ancient Egypt was called
“The Healing Place of the Soul.”
 REFERENCES

 LIBRARY :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library

 FATHER OF LIBRARY:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._R._Ranganathan

 SCHOOL
LIBRARYhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_library

 InDIAN LIBRARIES:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_libraries_in_India

 KVS Giudlines for school libraries:

http://kvklibrary.in/library/kv-library-rules.php

 e-Granthalaya -
https://eg4.nic.in/KVS/HOME/Default.aspx
 SR RANGNATHAN
Siyali Ramamrita Ranganathan (S.R.R.)[as a mathematician and librarian
from India.
His most notable contributions to the field were his five laws of library
science and the development of the first major faceted classification
system, the colon classification. He is considered to be the father of library
science, documentation, and information science in India and is widely
known throughout the rest of the world for his fundamental thinking in the
field. His birthday is observed every year as the National Librarian's Day in
India.

The Five laws of library science is a theory proposed by S. R. Ranganathan in 1931 detailing
the principles of operating a library system. Many librarians worldwide accept them as the
foundations of their philosophy.[1][2]
These laws are:

6. Books are for use.

7. Every person his or her book.
8. Every book its reader.
9. Save the time of the reader.
10. The library is a growing organism.
First Law: Books are for use
The first law constitutes the basis for the library services. Dr. Ranganathan observed that books
were often chained to prevent their removal and that the emphasis was on storage and
preservation rather than use. He did not reject the notion that preservation and storage were
important, but he asserted that the purpose of such activities was to promote use. Without user
access to materials, there is little value in these items. By emphasizing use, Dr. Ranganathan
refocused the attention of the field to access-related issues, such as the library's location, loan
policies, hours and days of operation, as well as the quality of staffing and mundane matters like
library furniture, temperature control and lighting. [2]
The first law of library science "books are for use" means that books in libraries are not meant
to be shut away from its users.

Second Law: Every person his or her book[edit]

This law suggests that every member of the community should be able to obtain materials
needed. Dr. Ranganathan felt that all individuals from all social environments were entitled to
library service, and that the basis of library use was education, to which all were entitled. These
entitlements were not without some important obligations for both libraries/librarians and library
patrons. Librarians should have excellent first-hand knowledge of the people to be served.
Collections should meet the special interests of the community, and libraries should promote and
advertise their services extensively to attract a wide range of readers. [2]
The second law of library science "every person his or her book" means that librarians serve a
wide collection of patrons, acquire literature to fit a vast collection of needs, do not judge what
specific patrons choose to read. Everyone has different tastes and differences and librarians
should respect that.

Third Law: Every book its reader[edit]

This principle is closely related to the second law, but it focuses on the item itself, suggesting that
each item in a library has an individual or individuals who would find that item useful. Dr.
Ranganathan argued that the library could devise many methods to ensure that each item finds
its appropriate reader. One method involved the basic rules for access to the collection, most
notably the need for open shelving.[2]
The third law of library science "every book its reader" means a library's books have a place in
the library even if a smaller demographic might choose to read it.

Fourth Law: Save the time of the reader[edit]

This law is a recognition that part of the excellence of library service is its ability to meet the
needs of the library user efficiently. To this end, Dr. Ranganathan recommended the use of
appropriate business methods to improve library management. He observed that centralizing the
library collection in one location provided distinct advantages. He also noted that excellent staff
would not only include those who possess strong reference skills, but also strong technical skills
in cataloging, cross-referencing, ordering, accessioning, and the circulation of materials.[2]
The fourth law of library science "save the time of the user" means that all patrons should be able
to easily locate the material they desire quickly and efficiently.

Fifth Law: The library is a growing organism[edit]

This law focused more on the need for internal change than on changes in the environment itself.
Dr. Ranganathan argued that library organizations must accommodate growth in staff, the
physical collection, and patron use. This involved allowing for growth in the physical building,
reading areas, shelving, and in space for the catalog.[2]
The fifth law of library science "the library is a growing organism" means that a library should be
a continually changing institution, never static in its outlook. Books, methods, and the physical
library should be updated over time

“Every reader his or her book.

Every book its reader.”
― S.R. Ranganathan

“If you want to be a reference librarian, you must learn to overcome not only your
shyness but also the shyness of others!”
― S R Ranganathan

“Save the time of the reader, for it is valuable”

“A modern librarian, who has faith in the law “BOOKS ARE

FOR USE”, is happy when his readers make his selves constantly
empty.It is the stay-at-home volumes that perplex and depress
him.