Normative Principles MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Normative Principles - Download Free PDF

Key Points

• The Second law of library science is "Every reader his/her book".
• This law emphasizes the principle of inclusivity in library services.
• It ensures that libraries cater to the diverse needs and interests of all readers.
• By adhering to this principle, libraries can serve a wide range of users without discrimination.
• This law promotes the idea that everyone should have access to the information and resources they need.

 Additional Information

• Third law: "Every book its reader"
  • This law emphasizes that every book has its readers.
  • It highlights the importance of cataloging and classification to ensure that books are accessible to those who need them.
• Fourth law
  • The Fourth law states "Save the time of the reader".
  • It focuses on the efficiency and effectiveness of library services.
• Fifth law
  • The Fifth law states "A library is a growing organism".
  • It emphasizes that libraries should continuously evolve and adapt to meet the changing needs of users.

Key Points

• The fourth law of library science, "Save the time of the reader," emphasizes the importance of efficient cataloging and shelving.
• This principle aims to ensure that readers can find and access books quickly and easily.
• Efficient cataloging involves organizing and classifying books in a systematic way so that they can be retrieved promptly.
• Shelving books in an orderly manner ensures that they are placed in their correct locations, making them easily accessible to readers.
• This law underscores the value of time management in libraries, enhancing the user experience by minimizing the time spent searching for materials.

 Additional Information

• Restricting access to certain books
  • Restricting access to certain books may be necessary for various reasons, such as preserving rare or delicate materials, but it is not related to saving the time of the reader.
• Increasing library working hours
  • While increasing library working hours can improve accessibility for readers, it does not directly address the efficiency of finding and accessing materials.
• Expanding the library collection indefinitely
  • Expanding the library collection can provide more resources, but without efficient cataloging and shelving, it may become harder for readers to find what they need.

Key Points

• S.R. Ranganathan formulated the Five Laws of Library Science in 1928 and published these in his famous book entitled, “Five Laws of Library Science” in 1931.
• The book was published by "Madras Library Association (MALA)".
• The Five Laws are considered a first step towards putting library work on a scientific basis

Key Points

• The principle "Every book its reader" emphasizes the importance of connecting readers with the books that meet their interests and needs.
• This principle is a core tenet of user-centered services in libraries, which focus on understanding and meeting the needs of library patrons.
• User-centered services involve strategies to personalize the library experience for each user, ensuring that everyone finds the resources they need.
• Examples of user-centered services include reader advisory services, personalized recommendations, and outreach programs tailored to different user groups.
• These services enhance user satisfaction and engagement, making libraries more relevant and valuable to their communities.

 Additional Information

• Cataloging and classification
  • This refers to the systematic arrangement of books and materials in a library to make them easily searchable and accessible.
  • While important, it does not directly address the principle of matching books to readers.
• Budget management
  • This involves the allocation and oversight of financial resources within a library.
  • Effective budget management ensures that libraries can provide adequate services and resources, but it is not directly related to the principle of "Every book its reader".
• Space planning
  • This focuses on the design and arrangement of physical spaces within the library to enhance user experience.
  • While it can contribute to user satisfaction, it does not directly address the principle of finding the right book for each reader.

The Correct answer is the Second law.

Key Points

• The second law is “Every reader his/her book is the variant form of which is “books for all.
  • Implications of the second law are
• The obligation of the State:
  • ​​The State is obligated to establish and manage a robust library system capable of delivering adequate library services to the entire population.
  • This necessitates the implementation of appropriate legislation, which should include provisions for financial support and the establishment of a coordinating authority to oversee the various units within the system.
• Obligations of the Library Authority:
  • It is important to note that acquiring books with no apparent demand contradicts the essence of the second law.
  • User surveys serve as an effective tool for understanding user preferences, thereby aiding in the selection process.

Additional Information

• First Law: Books are for Use:
  • ​In his work "Library Science and Scientific Method," Ranganathan dismissed the First Law - "Books are for Use" - as a "trivial truism," implying that it is a statement of little significance that merely restates an obvious fact.
  • According to him, the idea that books are meant to be utilized is already widely understood and accepted.
  • Implications:
    • Open Access
    • Library Location
    • Working Hours
    • Library Building and Furniture
    • Staff
• 3rd law;
  • Every Book its Reader.
  • A book misplaced is a book lost forever is the principle of the 3rd law on the reader's side.
  • The third law also advocates the maintenance of a well-designed library catalog.​
• Fourth Law: Save the Time of the Reader, presents the biggest challenge to the library administrator. Policies must always be formulated keeping in view the needs of the readers (users) in mind.
  • Implications of 4th law are;
    • open access system
    • Proper classification system
    • Effective circulation systems
• Fifth Law: A Library is a Growing Organism:
  • ​Implication:​
    • Qualitative growth of Staff - The staff should be provided with opportunities to receive training in new areas of development.
    • Classification and Cataloguing scheme - Classification schemes should be hospitable to books arriving in the library on new subjects.
    • Building modernization - The library building should be planned and designed keeping in mind the expansion of the building both horizontally and vertically.
    • Weeding of Books - Removal of obsolete books from a library where their relevance has ceased to make room for current and relevant books.

The correct answer is 3rd Law:

Key Points

•  3rd law;
  • Every Book its Reader.
  • The approach of this law is oriented toward the book. As per the law, every book in a library should have a chance of finding its appropriate reader and be useful to her/him.
  • The third law implicitly means that “resources look for users.in fact, the duty of the librarian is to help the library resources find the people who want and need them most.
  • This principle naturally addresses the fundamental issue of open access.
  • A book misplaced is a book lost forever is the principle of the 3rd law on the reader's side.
  • The third law also advocates the maintenance of a well-designed library catalog

Additional Information

• 2nd Law:
  • The second law is “Every reader his/her book is the variant form of which is “books for all.
  • Implications of the second law are
    • The obligation of the State
    • Obligations of the Library Authority.
• 1st Law;
  •  First Law: Books are for Use
  • Implications of the first law are.
    • Library Location
    • Working Hours
    • Library Building and Furniture
    • Staff
• 4th law;
  • Fourth Law: Save the Time of the Reader, presents the biggest challenge to the library administrator. Policies must always be formulated keeping in view the needs of the readers (users) in mind.
  • Implications of 4th law are;
    • open access system
    • Proper classification system
    • Effective circulation systems with all recently developed methods and techniques like photo-charging systems, ticket systems, computerized charging systems, barcode systems, and radio frequency identification (RFID) systems

The Correct answer is Edward Goldston:

Key Points

• The Book Five Laws of Library Science was authored by S R Ranganathan and first published in 1931 and the first publisher was Edward Goldston Ltd.
• Today it is published by Ess Ess publication     

Additional Information

• These laws, as presented in Ranganathan's The Five Laws of Library Science, are:
  • Books are for use.
  • Every person his or her book.
  • Every book its reader.
  • Save the time of the reader.
  • A library is a growing organism.

The correct answer is 2nd law;

Key Points

• 2nd Law:
  • The second law is “Every reader his/her book is the variant form of which is “books for all
  • In this Law, Every ready means all types of users of the library irrespective of sex, caste, and physical appearance.
  • Implications of the second law are
    The obligation of the State
    Obligations of the Library Authority.
• 3rd law:​
  • Third Law: Every Book its Reader. The approach of this law is oriented toward the book. As per the law, every book in a library should have a chance of finding its appropriate reader and be useful to her/him.
  • The third law implicitly means that “resources look for users.in fact, the duty of the librarian is to help the library resources find the people who want and need them most.
  • This principle naturally addresses the fundamental issue of open access.
  • A book misplaced is a book lost forever is the principle of the 3rd law on the reader's side.
  • The third law also advocates the maintenance of a well-designed library catalog
• 1st Law:
  • First Law: Books are for Use
  • Implications of the first law are.
    • Library Location
    • Working Hours
    • Library Building and Furniture
    • Staff
• 4th law:
  • Fourth Law: Save the Time of the Reader, presents the biggest challenge to the library administrator. Policies must always be formulated keeping in view the needs of the readers (users) in mind.
  • Implications of 4th law are;
    • open access system
    • Proper classification system
    • Effective circulation systems with all recently developed methods and techniques like photo-charging systems, ticket systems, computerized charging systems, barcode systems, and radio frequency identification (RFID) systems
• 5th law:
  • Fifth Law: Library is a Growing Organism: Dr. Ranganathan compares the library to a growing organism. In a living organism, the growth is of two kinds: the child's growth and the adult's growth.
  • Implications:
    • Book Stock
    • Classification and the Catalogue; 
    • Weeding of Books

Additional Information

•  The book "Five laws of the library" is written by Dr. S R Ranganathan and was published in 1931.
• James A Retting in 1992 conceived the sixth law of the library "Every Reader his freedom'
• Micheal Gorman initiated the Five laws of Librarianship.
• Kuromen and Pekkarinen Pairi proposed two new laws
  • 6th law: Every reader his library
  • 7th law; every writer his contribution to the library.
• Mentor Cana in 2003 gave five laws of Software Library;1) Software is for use 2) Every user his / her software (or software for all) 3) Every software its user 4) Save the time of the user 5) A Software Library is a growing organism.
• The Five Laws of the Web” formulated by Alireza Noruzi [2004] entitled “Application of Ranganathan’s Five Laws to the Web:
  • 1) Web resources are for use.
  • 2) Every user has his / her Web resource.
  • 3) Every Web resource is its user.
  • 4) Save the time of the user.
  • 5) The Web is a growing organism.

The correct answer is D, B, A, C, E.

Key Points

• Reordering Ranganathan: Shifting User Behaviors, Shifting Priorities is a book written by Lynn Silipigni Connaway and Ixchel Fanie and published by OCLC in 2014
• In this book, they have changed the order of Ranganathan's Five Laws as follows:
  • Save the time of the reader
  • Every Person his or her book
  • Books are for use
  • Every book its reader
  • A library is a growing organism.​

Additional Information

• New Conceptions in the AI Era
  • AI is for use
  • Every citizen his/her AI
  • Every AI is for citizen usage.
  • AI saves the time of the user.
  • AI Systems are constantly evolving.
• NEW INSIGHTS AND WIDER INTERPRETATION OF FIVE LAWS:
  • James A. Retting in 1992 conceived a sixth law “Every reader his/her freedom” as applicable only to the type of service such as instruction or provision of information.
  • Michael Gorman has reinterpreted Ranganathan’s laws in the context of today’s library and its likely future, and reformulated them calling them [Gorman’s] “Five New Laws of Librarianship”.
    • ​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; and
      5) Honour the past and create the future.
  • Kuromen and Pekkarinen Paivi proposed two new laws in their writings.
    • These are 6th Law: “Every reader his library.
    • 7th Law: “Every writer his contribution to the library”
  • ​​Mentor Cana [2003] proposed five laws of the “Software Library.
    • ​1) Software is for use
      2) Every user his / her software (or software for all)
      3) Every software its user
      4) Save the time of the user
      5) A Software Library is a growing organism.
  • Alireza Noruzi A[2004] entitled “Application of Ranganathan’s Five Laws to the Web”.
    • ​1) Web resources are for use.
      2) Every user his / her Web resource.
      3) Every Web resource its user.
      4) Save the time of the user.
      5) The Web is a growing organism.

The Correct answer is ​Location.

Key Points

• First Law: Books are for Use
  • Implications of the first law are.
    • Library Location
    • Working Hours
    • Library Building and Furniture
    • Staff​

Additional Information

• The second law is “Every reader his/her book is the variant form of which is “books for all
  • In this Law, Every ready means all types of users of the library irrespective of sex, caste, and physical appearance.
    • Implications of the second law are
      • The obligation of the State: It must be emphasized that it is obligatory on the part of the State to develop and organize a library system capable of providing adequate library service to all people.
      • This has to be accomplished through suitable legislation, which should make provisions for the financial support of the library system.
      • Obligations of the Library Authority. The second law emphasizes the fact that it is obligatory on the part of the library authority to accept responsibility to book selection and the provision of suitable staff.
• ​Third Law: Every Book its Reader. The approach of this law is oriented toward the book.
  • As per the law, every book in a library should have a chance of finding its appropriate reader and be useful to her/him.
    The third law implicitly means that “resources look for users. the librarian must help the library resources find the people who want and need them most.
• Fourth Law: Save the Time of the Reader, presents the biggest challenge to the library administrator. Policies must always be formulated keeping in view the needs of the readers (users) in mind.
  • implications of 4th law are;
  • open access system
  • Proper classification system
  • Effective circulation systems with all recently developed methods and techniques like photo-charging systems, ticket systems, computerized charging systems, barcode systems, and radio frequency identification (RFID) systems.
• Fifth Law: Library is a Growing Organism: Dr. Ranganathan compares the library to a growing organism. In a living organism, the growth is of two kinds: the child's growth and the adult's growth.
  • ​Implications:
  • Book Stock
  • Classification and the Catalogue; 
  • Weeding of Books

The correct answer is Fifth Law.

Key Points

Fifth law:  

• According to the fifth law "The Library is a growing organism"
• A Library is a social property, it will keep growing like an organism.
• According to this law, the collection of books should grow in all the areas of the subject.
• This law promotes the casting of old books and unused materials from the library and preserved valuable books in the library.

Additional Information

The Five Laws of Library Science:

• First Law: Books are for Use
• Second Law: Every Reader His /Her Book
• Third Law: Every Book its Reader
• Fourth Law: Save the Time of the Reader
• Fifth Law: A library is a Growing Organism

Important Points 

• The five laws are also known as "FUNDAMENTAL LAWS'
• DR. Ranganathan thought about the five laws of library science in 1924.
• These laws were first published in Ranganathan's book The Five Laws Of Library Science."

The correct answer is the Second law:

Key Points 

• The Table of contents of Book Five Laws of library science is as follows:​
• Chapter I The First Law   1-73
• Chapter II The second law and its struggles  74-152
• Chapter III The second law and its Digvijaya 153-227
• Chapter IV The second law and its implications 228-298.
• Chapter V The Third Law 299-335
• Chapter VI The fourth law  336-381
• Chapter VII The Fifth Law  382-416
• Thus out of the total pages in the book 222 pages are dedicated to the Second law.

Additional Information

• In 1998, Michael Gorman recommended the following laws in addition to Ranganathan's five:
  • 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.
• In 2004, librarian Alireza Noruzi recommended the application of Ranganathan's laws to the Web:
  • Web resources are for use.
  • Every user has his or her web resource.
  • Every web resource its user.
  • Save the time of the user.
  • The Web is a growing organism.
• In 2008, librarian Carol Simpson recommended the following edits to Ranganathan's laws to reflect the richness of media
  • Media are for use.
  • Every patron his information.
  • Every medium its user.
  • Save the time of the patron.
  • The library is a growing organism.
• In 2019, Basheerhamad Shadrach proposed the Five Laws of Knowledge, adapted from those of Ranganathan.
  • Knowledge is for use in all forms.
  • Every citizen" has the right to access all forms of knowledge.
  • Every knowledge [sic] is for access by all without discrimination of any kind.
  • Save the time of all knowledge seekers.
  • A knowledge system is one that evolves with time to achieve all of the above laws.

The Correct answer is 'Books are for use'.

Key Points

Additional Information

• OCLC-
  • It stands for "Online Computer Library Center", and is an American non-profit cooperative organization founded in 1967 as the "Ohio College Library Center".
  • It provides shared technology services, original research, and community programs for its membership and the library community at large.
• Reordering Ranganathan: Shifting User Behaviors, Shifting Priorities is a book written by Lynn Silipigni Connaway and Ixchel Fanie and published by OCLC in 2014
• In this book, they have changed the order of Ranganathan's Five Laws as follows:
  • Save the time of the reader
  • Every Person his or her book
  • Books are for use
  • Every book its reader
  • A library is a growing organism.

The Correct answer is S. R. Ranganathan.

Key Points

• Dr. Shiyali Ramamitra Ranganathan (1892 - 1972) was an inventor, educator, philosopher, mathematician, and universal librarian.
• He made several significant contributions to the library profession.
• A fundamental contribution made by him is the Five Laws of Library Science.
• He formulated the Five Laws of Library Science in 1928 and published these in his famous book entitled, "Five Laws of Library Science" in 1931.
• He owes the First Law to Prof. Edward N. Ross, his mathematics teacher, and the other laws were enunciated by Ranganathan himself.

Additional Information

• A. Neelameghan-​
  • Arshanipalai Neelameghan was head of the Documentation Research and Training Centre, Indian Statistical Institute, Bengaluru.
  • He initiated the regional information network ASTINFO for Asia.
  • He successfully laid the Technical Assistance Missions to developing countries in Asia, the USA, Arab, etc.
  • He edited the book entitled ‘‘Public Library System: India, Sri Lanka, UK, USA’’.with Ranganathan.
• M.A. Gopinath-​
  • He is an Indian author and Librarian.
  • He is the author of "Construction of the Depth Version of colon classification".​
• G. Bhattacharya-
  • G. Bhattacharya is the father of Postulate-Based Permute Subject Indexing (POPSI).

The Correct answer is Democratization.

Key Points

• SECOND LAW: EVERY READER HIS / HER BOOK:
  • ​The second law of library science, "Every Reader His/Her Book," emphasizes the principle that books are meant to be accessible to all.
  • This law advocates for the democratization of library services, ensuring that every reader has the right to access books of their interest.
  • The responsibilities arising from this law apply to various stakeholders, including the state, library authorities, library staff, and readers.
  • The law underscores the obligation of the state to provide equal reading opportunities through financial support, legislative measures, and coordination of library activities.
  • Library authorities are encouraged to understand the diverse requirements of readers when selecting books and to appoint staff with professional competence and dedication.
  • The library staff are expected to be cooperative, service-oriented, and actively engaged in user education programs to bridge the gap between readers and the books they seek.

Additional Information

• 1st Law of library science
  • First Law: Books are for Use
  • Implications of the first law are.
    • Library Location:
    • Library Hours:
    • Library Building and FurnitureStaff:
• ​3rd law:​
  • Third Law: Every Book its Reader.
  • The approach of this law is oriented toward the book. As per the law, every book in a library should have a chance of finding its appropriate reader and be useful to her/him.
• 4th law:
  • Fourth Law: Save the Time of the Reader, presents the biggest challenge to the library administrator. Policies must always be formulated keeping in view the needs of the readers (users) in mind.
• 5th law:
  • Fifth Law: Library is a Growing Organism: Dr. Ranganathan compares the library to a growing organism. In a living organism, the growth is of two kinds: the child's growth and the adult's growth.