Revisiting contributions of Ranganathan in collection development

Abstract

The paper discusses the complexities involved in selection of reading and research material in libraries. Traces the evolution of principles of book selection from the time of Dewey, Drury, Haines and; Carter and Bonk The main emphasis is on the contribution of Ranganathan in evolving theory of book selection deduced from his Five Laws of Library Science. The present IT environment and automation in libraries are in the forefront, not only to comply with the messages of collection development but to the discipline of librarianship as a whole. His principles are as applicable today as were during 1950s and 1960s.