Implications of Five Laws of Library Science on Dr. S R Ranganathan’s Colon Classification: An Explorative Study

S. K Asok Kumar; B. Ramesh Babu; P. Nageswara Rao

doi:10.4275/KSLIS.2011.45.4.309

Implications of Five Laws of Library Science on Dr. S R Ranganathan’s Colon Classification: An Explorative Study

Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
2011, 45(4), pp.309-326
DOI : 10.4275/KSLIS.2011.45.4.309
Publisher : 한국문헌정보학회
Research Area : Interdisciplinary Studies > Library and Information Science
Received : October 15, 2011
Accepted : November 27, 2011

S. K Asok Kumar ¹, B. Ramesh Babu ², P. Nageswara Rao ³

¹Ambedkar Law University
²University of Madras
³M.G. R. Knowledge City, CIT Campus

Accredited

ABSTRACT

There have been several milestones in the history of library classification but most of the schemes failed to meet the new challenges in the organisation of information. Dr S R Ranganathan tried to revolutionise the whole thinking on classificatory approach, when he devised the Colon Classification (CC) in 1933. He developed the Colon Classification scheme with a sound theoretical background based on normative principles, Five laws of Library science, canons, etc. One important feature of CC is that, its use is not confined to information storage and retrieval alone. This paper presents an over view of different editions of the CC highlighting the salient features of the editions. Further the implication of Five Laws of Library Science has been described. The authors stressed that the features of such as greater hospitality, specificity and mixed notation has paved the way to design and develop the depth schedules on various micro level subjects and so far about 130 micro schedules have been published. The impressions by the leading LIS professionals during and after Ranganathan’s time have been highlighted. The authors expressed the fear that when the library world would see the complete version of the seventh edition of CC? It may be due to lack of institutional support engaging in the research or financial constraints. The authors are of the opinion that any scheme to flourish needs a sound research body to bring out the revised editions as done in the case of Dewey Decimal Classification. The relevance of the CC in the contemporary world of Librarianship is discussed. Finally concludes that CC needs to be resuscitated as it is a precious national heritage; and still a force for the management of libraries.

KEYWORDS

Colon Classification, Five Laws of Library Science, S. R. Ranganathan, Relevance of CC, Depth Schedules, Analytico-Synthetic scheme

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

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Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.84

Implications of Five Laws of Library Science on Dr. S R Ranganathan’s Colon Classification: An Explorative Study

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* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.84

Implications of Five Laws of Library Science on Dr. S R Ranganathan’s Colon Classification: An Explorative Study

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