- 12th August is Celebrated as National Librarian’s Day in India
- “August 12th is being celebrated as National Librarian’s Day in India, in remembrance of national professor of library science, Dr S R Ranganathan (1892-1972), who had spearheaded library development in India.”
- Dr. S R Ranganathan (1892-1972) Ranganathan, born on 9 August 1892, came from a moderate background in British- ruled India. He was born in the small town of Shiyali (now known as Sirkazhi), in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. Ranganathan began his professional life as a mathematician; he earned B.A. and M.A. degrees in mathematics from Madras Christian College in his home province, and then went on to earn a teaching license
- His lifelong goal was to teach mathematics, and he was successively a member of the mathematics faculties at universities in Mangalore, Coimbatore and Madras (all within the span of five years). As a mathematics professor, he published a handful of papers, mostly on the history of mathematics. His career as an educator was somewhat hindered by a handicap of stammering (a difficulty Ranganathan gradually overcame in his professional life). The Government of India awarded Padmashri to Dr. S.R. Ranganathan for valuable contributions to Library Science.
- Ranganathan's education was initiated on Vijayadasami day in October, 1897 with Aksharabyasam at Ubhayavedanthapuram near Shiyali. After this, Ranganathan was admitted to a school in Shiyali, and was handed to the care of Subba Ayyar, a brother of his maternal grandfather and a primary school teacher. During his school days, Ranganathan came under the influence of two of his teachers who shaped his mind -R. Antharama Ayyar and Thiruvenkatachariar, the Sanskrit teacher. From them Ranganathan learnt about the life teachings of nayanars (Shaivaite Bhaktas) and Always (Vaishnavaite Bhaktas ingrained in Ranganathan which kept in good stead in his later life to make decisions at crucial junctures. Ranganathan attended the S.M. Hindu High School at Shiyali and passed Matriculation examination in 1908/1909. Ranganathan passed the examination in First Class, inspite of sickness like anaemia and stammering. In his high school career he came under the influence of P.A. Subramanya Ayyar, a scholar on Sri Aurobindo.
- Prof. Skinner spotted him in a crowd of students and admitted him into the course. Ranganathan passed B.A. with a first class in March/April 1913. In June, same year, he joined the M.A. class in Mathematics with Professor Edward B. Ross as his teacher. Being a favourite student of Prof. Ross, Ranganathan had an excellent Guru-Shishya relationship. More than class room discussions, corridor and staircase discussions were taken recourse to. Ranganathan ingrained this trait into his own discipline later
- Ranganathan joined the junior intermediate class at the Madras Christian College in March 1909. Even in those days, there were paucity of college seats. Ranganathan was picked up for his excellent marks in all the subjects.
- Ranganathan left Presidency College in January 1924 to take appointment as the first librarian of Madras University. It was natural for Ranganathan - who was a lively teacher and had thrilling intellectual experiences with students and faculties of the Presidency College - not to opt for the post of librarian, even though it carried a handsome salary. Ranganathan quite often narrated to us that he never wished to be a librarian. He said that Providence had made him one, for which he never regretted in his later life. In spite of his diffidence and lack of interest, his colleagues and supervisors - being keen on using his innate abilities — saw to his appointment as the Librarian of the Madras University in 1924.
- Five Laws of Library Science: • Books are for use • Every reader his/her book • Every book, its reader • Save the time of the reader • A library is a growing organism .
- Text of Classic Books by Dr. S R Ranganathan: • Ranganathan, S. R. (1989) Philosophy of Library Classification. Sarada Ranganathan Endowment for Library Science (Bangalore, India). • Ranganathan, S. R. (1973) New education and school library: Experience of half a century. Vikas Publishing (Delhi, India). • Ranganathan, S. R. (1967) Prolegomena to Library Classification. Asia Publishing House (New York). • Ranganathan, S. R. (1951) Classification and Communication. University of Delhi (Delhi, India).
- Ranganathan, S. R. (1951) Classification and Communication. University of Delhi (Delhi, India). • Ranganathan, S. R. (1951) Documentation Genesis and Development. Vikas Publishing House (Delhi, India). • Ranganathan, S. R. (1931) The Five Laws of Library Science. Madras Library Association (Madras, India) and Edward Goldston (London, UK).
NATIONAL LIBRARIAN DAY ACTIVITIES
Visit your local library
When’s the last time you went to the library? Many public libraries are located in beautiful historic buildings. Find yours today.
Thank a librarian
Thank your local librarian for their service and let them know it’s appreciated.
Donate some books to a library
Ask your local library if they’re looking for any specific donations. Check your shelves or buy a couple of new books to donate to their collection.
FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT LIBRARIES
- Public libraries serve more customers than movie theaters
In 2019, the average American adult took 10.5 trips to the public library and only five to a movie theater.
World’s largest library
The U.S. Library of Congress is the world's largest library, housing 168 million items.
Not always quiet
Contrary to the belief that all libraries require silence, the Tikkurila Library in Vantaa, Finland is equipped with a (soundproof) karaoke room.
Check out your next look
To help residents who are looking for work, the New York Public Library lets members check out ties, briefcases, and other accessories to spruce up their outfit for a job interview.
More libraries than McDonald’s
There are more than 16,000 public central libraries and branch libraries in the U.S.—that’s more than McDonald’s locations!
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL LIBRARIAN DAY
It’s a great excuse to read
Have you been putting off finishing that novel? Is there a new book you’re itching to read? Set some time aside today for uninterrupted reading.
It celebrates unsung heroes
Librarians fulfill many important social functions, but we don’t often recognize the breadth of their service.
It highlights public services
Public libraries are a crucial service in an increasingly privatized world. National Librarian Day celebrates these public spaces that contribute to the overall well-being of society.
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