Five Laws of Library Science

work by Ranganathan

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Last updated

June 26, 2026

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S.R. Ranganathan, an Indian librarian, formulated the Five Laws of Library Science in 1931. These laws are considered a definitive statement on the ideal of library service and have had a significant global impact.1

The Five Laws are:
* 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: The library is a growing organism.1

Ranganathan also developed the Colon Classification system and the technique of chain indexing, which are influential in library science.1

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S.R. Ranganathan
His Five Laws of Library Science (1931) was widely accepted as a definitive statement of the ideal of library service. He also drafted plans for a national and several state library systems, founded and edited several journals, and was active in numerous professional associations.
Read More
His Five Laws of Library Science (1931) was widely accepted as a definitive statement of the ideal of library service. He also drafted plans for a national and several state library systems, founded and edited several journals, and was active in numerous professional associations.
Read More