Introduction:
The main role of the library is to help students to learn when they are away from their teachers through creating a learning environment. Service of mankind is its motto of librarian ship. For achieving this, the librarian should follow the seven lamps of library science.
Seven lamps of conduct of a librarian:
The term librarian consists of nine letters which express nine good qualities of librarian. The term ‘LIBRARIAN’ may be expressed as follows:
Ø L –love for books
Ø I - inquisitiveness
Ø B-Broad outlook
Ø R-Resourcefulness
Ø A-Accomplished personality
Ø R-Reality, sense of
Ø I-Interest in man and his ideas
Ø A-Accomplished habit
Ø N-Neutrality
We can describe seven lamps as:
1. Impersonal Book Selection:
A librarian must select books without any prejudice. He should not accept the books on the basis of his personal dislike of the authors of the books under the garb of declaring these as bellow standard.
2. Service before self:
Service before self must be the motto of a librarian since he is there not for himself but is a means to an end i.e. fulfillment of the reading requirements of his readers.
3. Split –mind:
A librarian must have a spilt-mind. Firstly he should be capable of keeping alive the unfulfilled demands of his readers. Secondly, he should be capable of attending to many enquiries at a time. He must have an active mind.
4. Sympathetic Behavior:
A librarian must have sympathetic attitude towards the readers and should try to inculcate self-confidence amongst them. He should treat them in such a manner that he becomes a lovable personality.
5. Tact:
A librarian must be tactful; otherwise he will find it difficult to succeed since he has to deal with various types of human beings. Unless he tackles them in a tactful manner, he is sure to bring bad name to the profession.
6. Industry:
A librarian’s job is not a ‘bed of roses’. It demands hard labor and perseverance. Those who cannot put their heart and soul into their jobs we advised to tap at some other door. A librarian must be industrious and patient in his disposition and nature.
7. Scholarship:
Last but not the least; a librarian must be a scholar himself first, so that he can serve as a ‘guide’. He should be fully conversant with the reading materials which are stocked in his library in order to guide his readers. His scholarship should attract research workers towards his library and himself.
Meaning of philosophy
The word ‘Philosophy’ comes from the Greek roots philo- meaning "love" and -sophos, meaning "wisdom." Or it means pursuit of wisdom
According to Mariam Webster Philosophy is a discipline comprising as its core logic, aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology.
Philosophy of librarianship :
Ø Fountain of Truth:
The motto of a library should be to serve as a ‘Fountain of Truth’. An ideal librarian should not worry for criticism from the interested quarters of politicians and other persons.
Ø Market Place of Ideas:-
Libraries should serve as ‘Intellectual Service Stations’. It means that the librarian’s mental development should be of such a high level that he understands the intellectual needs of the readers.
Ø Service of the Community:
The motto of a librarian should be ‘Service Before Self’. In other word, a librarian should sacrifice his everything for serving his clientele. He cannot have any existence without the community. So he must serve his community in a proper manner.
Ø Creating Reading Habit:
A librarian is the person who created interest amongst his readers by his subtle methods. This can be done by continually providing the best reading materials such as chair, table and other decoration.
Ø Self education:
A library’s purpose should be to provide self-education instead of formal education which is the function of the schools, colleges and universities
Love of Books:
A librarian, who does not live books, cannot become a successful librarian just as an engineer who does not take care to learn the use of the tools of his trade. Librarians should take proper steps to protect the books from bookworms and other enemies of the books.
Love of Humanity:
The librarian must know his clients thoroughly he must know their likes and dislikes. By ‘love of humanity’ is meant that the librarian really gets pleasure in knowing the readers. Further, the librarian should consider all the readers alike without any distinction of caste, creed, sex or religion.
Conclusion:
A librarian to be successful professional must keep burning the ‘Seven lamps of conduct.’ For proper purpose librarians shall render impartial service to all library users regardless of their race, beliefs, age, gender, or social status.
