nationallibraryday

Indian National Library Day – August 12

Celebrating the birth anniversary of Dr. S.R.Ranganathan, Father of Indian Library Science

Today, August 12, India celebrates National Library Day—a time to recognise libraries as vibrant hubs of learning, creativity, and community connection. This day honours the life and legacy of Dr. Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan, the visionary often called the Father of Library Science in India. His birthday inspires this national tribute, reminding us of the power of accessible knowledge.

Dr. S.R. Ranganathan – Legacy & Vision

Born: August 12, 1892, in Tamil Nadu
Career: Mathematics professor turned first librarian of University of Madras
Contributions:
- Developed Five Laws of Library Science
- Invented Colon Classification System, improving organisation and access
Honours: Awarded the Padma Shri for monumental contributions

His Works in Library Science

The Five Laws of Library Science (1931)
Colon Classification (1933)
Prolegomena to Library Classification (1937)
Library Administration (1935)
Reference Service (1942)
Library Manual | Classification and Cataloguing

His works are translated and cited in global library training and research.

Five Laws of Library Science

Books are for use – Libraries exist to be used, not to store books.
Every reader his/her book – Serve diverse user needs.
Every book its reader – Every resource has someone who values it.
Save the time of the reader – Make access easy and efficient.
A library is a growing organism – Libraries must adapt to change.

Happy National Library Day

Home