By: Jolo Van Clyde S. Abatayo, RL
Reordering Ranganathan: Shifting User Behaviors, Shifting Priorities by Ixchel M. Faniel and Lynn Silipigni Connaway is a report that focuses on the reorganization and reinterpretation of Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan's Five Laws of Library Science to adapt on today's library resources and services, as well as the attitudes that people exhibit when engaging with them.
Although the authors strongly believe that the Ranganathan's five laws are still significant today, their foremost desire is to help develop both the work done by librarians and the discernment of libraries and librarians. By altering how we think about the five laws in terms of elucidation and order of relevance, the authors hope to reflect the current resources and services available for use and the behaviors that people show when engaging with them.
The goal of this publication is to offer a sensible and pertinent framework for Ranganathan’s laws that today’s librarians, library researchers, and information scientists can refer to as they think about making modifications in practice and evolving programs for future research endeavors. This sounds critical but I think that the modified laws will work!
The changes are the following:
1. The ultimate definition of "books are for use" is absolutely about access. But, the authors’ understanding focuses on augmenting the corporal and procedural infrastructure required to provide materials or resources.
My Reaction: I really agree with them that it must start within the organization. If the library itself is weak, there is a big possibility that the quality of resources and services it provides is also weak. I think that it is best for the library to formulate realistic and understandable procedures and policies that would enlighten and assist users in the utilization of the library materials and services. I strongly believe that it is an edge if an organization would apply for an ISO 9001:2015 certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) if it wants to have quality assurance when it comes to quality management systems.
In the process of applying for the said certification, like any department in an organization, the library will be required to prepare a documented procedures manual for every function/activity that the library conducts. The ISO auditor/s will strictly scrutinize and criticize the documented procedures manual if the processes are really accurately observed and practiced. For example, in the circulation process, there must be a clear flow of activities that the library follows to ensure the efficacy of the book borrowing. In general, the objective of this certification is to ensure that all resources and services in the library are controlled and monitored to guarantee 100 percent quality assurance.
Without a doubt, if the library processes are standardized, the utilization of library resources like book borrowing will surely be easier for the library patrons and the accessibility will be augmented. I firmly believe that the satisfaction of the users is a manifestation of reliability and productivity of the library.
2. It is now necessary to “know your community and its needs.” It is the authors’ interpretation of "every person his or her book."
My Reaction: Of course, in order for us, librarians, to determine the needs of our community, we always do assessments. I think that it is very effective to collaborate with the teaching faculty because they have subject expertise and they are very familiar with the academic programs they handle. I believe that they are important catalysts especially when we do collection evaluation and mapping. In this way, we can also educate our faculty about the importance of the library in providing the right materials to the right users at the right place and at the right time.
3. The authors’ interpretation of "every book its reader" directs on expanding the access, discoverability, and utilization of resources within users’ current workflows
My Reaction: I think that it is related to the second law but it mainly focuses on the item itself. The authors suggest that in order for the users to appreciate the usefulness of the library materials, libraries must escalate access, discoverability, and the utilization of these resources based on the users’ current workflows.
I strongly believe that the libraries nowadays must be user-centered. In the report of Merrilee Proffitt, James Michalko and Melissa Renspie which is entitled, “Shaping the Library to the Life of the User: Adapting, Empowering, Partnering, Engaging,” it is highlighted there that:
- Users increasingly have choices outside the library, and those choices are both networked and social.
- It is far too easy to make incorrect assumptions about users’ needs and motives. Mixed methodologies, including practices based in ethnography and design, help libraries to better understand their constituents and to make wise choices.
- Libraries need to adapt, empower, partner and engage in order to successfully shape their future services around users' needs.
The User-centered design is a term commonly associated with web development and online environments. I really believe that we, librarians need to widen our horizon and intensify understanding about the users’ experiences. We should change our paradigms and must start thinking that it is not all about us anymore, it is all about our library clienteles.
4. The modern or the 21st-century library users dare librarians to move from the traditional assertion of "save the time of the reader." According to the authors, in order to meet today's users' wants and needs, it is a must to embed library systems and services into their current workflows.
My Reaction: I agree with the authors that it is very important for librarians to make use of the available Information Technology (IT) facilities and tools that could improve the services and resources of the library. I know that it’s a cliché for me to say this but IT really makes our works easier and faster. We can now utilize the Integrated Library Management Systems (ILMS) which enables to automate our library functions like cataloging, acquisition, and circulation. Furthermore, there is now an Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) for us to quickly retrieve the materials we want to borrow or access. There is a lot of systems out there which really saves the time of the librarians and the library users.
5. The authors strongly agree that "a library is a growing organism" and recommend developing users' share of responsiveness.
My Reaction: I also have my stance on this law. I believe that in order for the library to grow, it must wholeheartedly embrace Information Technology and it must have librarians who are fervent for positive change.
As I have mentioned, librarianship isn't easy. This profession is absolutely puzzling. There is a lot of things to learn, keys to unlock, a labyrinth to pass, and mysteries to solve. However, your experiences and the people around you are your best teachers and they are always there to help you to become an effective and efficient librarian. You just need to be open-minded. You must be willing to empty your cup. The library is a growing organism, that's why I strongly believe that a librarian, along with the library itself, must also grow.
Lastly, it is very important to educate and inspire our users about their relevance as key players in the success of the library. It is also necessary to understand what they feel and what they want. Their opinions also matter. They know something that we don't and it's great to work with them for the amelioration of the library. Let us grow and evolve together!
Lastly, it is very important to educate and inspire our users about their relevance as key players in the success of the library. It is also necessary to understand what they feel and what they want. Their opinions also matter. They know something that we don't and it's great to work with them for the amelioration of the library. Let us grow and evolve together!
Other Variants:
Librarian, Michael Gorman (past president of the American Library Association, 2005–2006), and Walt Crawford recommended the following laws in addition to Ranganathan's five in Future Libraries: Dreams, Madness, and Realities [American Library Association, 1995], (p. 8) Gorman later repeated them in his small book, Our Singular Strengths [American Library Association, 1998]. B. Shadrach (Indian Public Library Movement, 2015) proposed an alternative to Ranganathan's five laws at the Indian Public Libraries Conference, 2015 in New Delhi.
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 has 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
In 2008, librarian, Carol Simpson recommended that editing must be done to Ranganathan's law due to media richness. The following were:
1. Media are for use.
2. Every patron his information.
3. Every medium its user.
4. Save the time of the patron.
5. The library is a growing organism
In 2015, B. Shadrach proposed an alternative set of laws adopted from Dr. S R Ranganathan:
1. Knowledge is for use in ‘all’ forms
2. Every citizen has the right to access ‘all’ knowledge in 'all' forms
3. Every piece of knowledge is for access by ‘all’ without discrimination of any kind
4. Save the time of ‘all’ of the knowledge seekers
5. A library or a knowledge system is one that evolves with time to achieve all of the above laws
In 2016, Dr. Achala Munigal recommended that editing be done to Ranganathan's law due to the introduction of Social Tools and their applications in Libraries
1. Social Media is for use – increasingly in libraries by librarians
2. Every user his/her Social Tool
3. Every Social Tool its user
4. Save the time of user by providing information he/she seeks using the social tool he/she is familiar with.
5. Social Media is a growing organism. With various tools and apps being introduced every day. Libraries are not brick and stone anymore. They serve members and non-members alike in terms of non-traditional library services; irrespective of space and time.
References:
Connaway, L. S. & Faniel, I. M. (2014). Reordering Ranganathan: Shifting User
Behaviors, Shifting Priorities. Retrieved last December 10, 2018 from https://www.oclc.org/content/dam/research/publications/library/2014/oclcresearch-reordering-ranganathan-2014.pdf.
Noruzi, A. (2004). Application of Ranganathan's Laws to the Web. Retrieved last December 10,
2018 from http://www.webology.org/2004/v1n2/a8.html
Pundsack, K. (2016). Retrieved last December 10, 2018 from
http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2016/02/is-your-library-user-centered/
USC Marshall. (2018). Dr. S.R. Ranganathan’s Five Laws of Library Science. Retrieved last
December 10, 2018 from https://librarysciencedegree.usc.edu/blog/dr-s-r-ranganathans-five-laws-of-library-science/
