Ranganathan‘s five ‘laws’ have classic status in the library community. I am using ‘classic’ in the Frank Kermode sense of being ‘patient of interpretation’ over time: they express something which remains relevant as contexts change.
I wrote about The Long Tail in terms of aggregation of supply and aggregation of demand.
In this context, aggregation of supply is about improving discovery and reducing transaction costs. It is about making it much easier to allow a reader to find it and get it, whatever it is. Or, in other words, every reader his or her book.
Aggregation of demand is about mobilizing a community of users so that the chances of rendezvous between a resource and an interested user are increased. Or, in other words, every book its reader.
Incidentally, for those who need to be reminded about the full five laws, check out the stylish Qu�dam cuiusdam.
Share
Comments
So-called soft skills are hard
So-called soft skills are important across a range of library activities. Existing trends will further amplify this importance. Describing these skills as soft may be misleading, or even damaging. They should be recognized as learnable and teachable, and should be explicitly supported and rewarded.
12 min read
The technology career ladder
Library leaders should be drawn from across the organization. Any idea that technology leaders are overly specialised or too distant from general library work is outmoded and counter-productive.
7 min read
Calgary Central Library: combining intimacy and civic statement
The Calgary central library was on first impression the finest public building I have been in for years.
3 min read
