HISTORY OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION
SCIENCE
1. Foundational Epistemology & Definitions
Library and Information Science (LIS) is an
interdisciplinary field that integrates practices from management, information
technology, and education to handle the collection, organization, preservation,
and dissemination of information resources.
·
Terminology
Evolution: The terms library science, librarianship, and library and
information science are largely interchangeable. The combined phrase Library
and Information Science (LIS) is preferred to highlight the scientific and
technical foundations of the discipline. LIS should not be confused with
information theory, which is the pure mathematical study of the concept of
information.
·
Science
vs. Philosophy: While library science focuses on developing and refining
physical and digital techniques, library philosophy studies the fundamental
aims and justifications of the profession.
·
Knowledge
Organization: Library system frameworks function as specific
socio-technical structures within the broader domain of knowledge organization.
While library science manages physical and digital assets inside university or
government nodes, general knowledge organization expands into global internet
data processing, computer science, linguistics, and artificial intelligence.
2. Chronological Chronology of LIS
The historical timeline of the
discipline spans major structural milestones across several centuries:
|
Timeline |
Key Pioneer |
Core Milestone / Historical Context |
|
1627 |
Gabriel Naudé |
French scholar published Advice on Establishing a Library
(Advis pour dresser une bibliothèque), the earliest text on library
operations. He applied these to Cardinal Jules Mazarin's library. |
|
1808 |
Martin Schrettinger |
Bavarian librarian coined the term 'Library Science' in
his complete textbook. Broke away from nature-oriented setups and organized
books alphabetically. |
|
19th C. |
Thomas Jefferson |
Devised a subject classification for Monticello using the
Baconian method. This collection provided the start of what became the
Library of Congress. |
|
1887 |
Melvil Dewey |
Opened the School of Library Economy at Columbia
University on January 5, 1887, establishing the first library school. The
term 'library economy' predominated until 1942. |
|
1916 |
Asa Don Dickinson |
Published the Punjab Library Primer at the University of
the Punjab (Lahore), the first LIS textbook in English globally and first
library science program in Asia. |
|
1923 |
C. C. Williamson |
Issued 'The Williamson Report' under the Carnegie
Corporation, designating that professional library science training should be
formally housed within universities. |
|
1931 |
S. R. Ranganathan |
Published The Five Laws of Library Science and developed
the world's first major analytico-synthetic system (Colon Classification).
Celebrated as the Father of LIS in India. |
|
20th C. |
Lee Pierce Butler |
Advocated quantitative research methods in social sciences
at the University of Chicago Graduate Library School to steer away from
purely procedural library economy frameworks. |
|
1995 |
Modern Reworkings |
Modernized versions of Ranganathan's laws were published
to strip direct book references. Michael Gorman published Our Enduring
Values, stating 8 principles incorporating digital formats. |
3. Demographics, Gender, and Diversity Trends
Librarianship has historically manifested a dual career
structure regarding gender dynamics in the United States, alongside shifting
diversity profiles:
• The Leadership
Gender Gap: While the workforce maintains an approximate 4:1 female-to-male
ratio, top administrative positions have historically been held by men. For
example, up to 2015, no woman had ever been appointed Librarian of Congress.
Modern equity has progressed with women consistently holding the ALA Presidency
since the 2009-2010 term, following a history where the first 35 years were
male-dominated. Theresa Elmendorf was the first female president in 1911.
• Specialized ALA
Feminist Task Forces: The Feminist Task Force (FTF, 1970) was the first ALA
group to target sexism, running the 'Women of Library History' online tracking
project. The Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship (COSWL, 1976)
and the Women & Gender Studies Section (WGSS) support specific collections,
while the GLBT Roundtable (GLBTRT) addresses marginalized access profiles.
• Workforce
Statistics (ALA 2009-2010): Out of 111,666 credentialed librarians, 98,273
were female and 20,393 were male. The age demographic heavily concentrated
between 55-64, with 104,393 identifying as White, 6,160 as African American,
3,661 as Latino, and 3,260 as Asian Pacific Islander.
• Diversity
Strategies: Innovation tools include the ALA Research Diversity Grant
Program (awarding $2,500 annually to three scholars) and the Spectrum
Scholarship Program (est. 1997). Proactive recruitment relies heavily on ethnic
networks like the American Indian Library Association (AILA, 1979), Black
Caucus (BCALA), Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA, 1973), and
REFORMA (1971).
4. Specialized Library Communities & Accessibility
Modern information retrieval frameworks integrate explicit
access equity parameters, specifically tracking services designed for the Deaf
community:
·
Alice
Hagemeyer: A key library activist who went back to school in the 1970s and
emerged as the first official 'Librarian for the Deaf Community' in public
library history. She compiled the foundational resource manual titled 'The Red
Notebook'.
·
IFLA and
ALA Accessibility Directives: The International Federation of Library
Associations and Institutions published 'Guidelines for Library Services to
Deaf People'. These instruct institutions to install Text Telephones (TTYs),
incorporate closed captioning, utilize updated assistive technology, and train
library staff in cultural competency.
·
Queens
Borough Public Library (QBPL): Implemented an innovative structural model
by hiring deaf librarian Lori Stambler to train core library personnel, conduct
sign language classes for families, and teach literacy classes for Deaf
patrons.
·
Gallaudet
University Library: Established in 1876, it houses the world's largest
collection of deaf-related materials (over 234,000 volumes). The staff
developed a customized hybrid system based on the Dewey Decimal Classification
to handle cataloguing parameters seamlessly.
·
LSDHH
(Tennessee): Managed by Sandy Cohen since 1979, the Library Services for
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing tracks and provides specialized statewide
information distribution collections regarding deafness, deaf history, and Deaf
culture.
Academic
References & Attributions:
•
Source Materials derived from The Complete Reference to Odisha Librarian
Recruitment Exams
• Maintained and curated for Library & Information Science Scholars,
Professionals, and Academic Researchers.
