What Exactly is a Library?
In the course of my day job last week, I happened upon someone who was carrying 6 books around with them.
“Ooh, you’ve got yourself a mobile library there!” I said.
“No, you have to have 1000 books to qualify as a library.” they retorted.
Really? I thought. There is a numerical delineation? I must investigate. So off I go. Today I’ll have a look at some basic facts and then throughout the week I’ll be popping them in to my daily notes.
Firstly though, I’ll be checking out that 1,000 book rule.
As always, the internet can’t just answer a simple question. The first proclaimant at Tag Vault says 5,000 items including books, newspapers and magazines etc constitutes a library. Then it does go on to quantify as a general rule of thumb a library needs to have 1,000 books.
So, my day-job-ee is right! And if you only have 999 books, sorry, you cannot be called a library.
Hang on a minute. Tag Vault is quoting the ALA which is the American Library Association. Is the 1000 book rule the same in the UK?
No, it is not. According to the author Stacey Faubion the answer is 4.
So, who’s correct? What do you think? Let’s ask India, as the world’s largest consumer of books, to decide. I found this interesting list at ebooks.inflibnet
3.1 Rural Libraries
As regards norms for rural public libraries in India, the following minimum configuration may be followed so that basic needs of the local community can be fulfilled.
Space – 1000 sq.ft.
Number of books – 6000
Periodicals and newspapers – 10
Reading seats – 25
Internet workstations – 5
The collection should include CDs and DVDs. Certain basic services based on local needs such as lending, reference, photocopying, skill development training progammes (e.g. personality development and communication), social events, children’s section, training to users, etc. should be provided.
The article then goes on to define libraries in rural areas, but I’ll let you follow the link and find out for yourself.
Next week I’ll be looking at other aspects that define libraries, and I’ll be posting these in my Daily Notes. Do look out for them, and have a wonderful week!
My illustration this week is my watercolour painting of someone applying lipstick- it’s the closest thing to saying Shhhhhhh! that I could find.
Zoe, The Gleeful Dabbler
