Ranganathan and the social role of Bibliography

Abstract

The term Bibliography in a title of one of Ranganathan’s works (Physical Bibliography for Librarians) is unusual, because it occurs only in two other volumes that Ranganathan dedicates to reference service, and curious, because for the disciplinary field of libraries Ranganathan is famous for having spread the expression Library science. The presentation dwells on the meaning of Social bibliography and develops it in two directions: the relationship with other disciplines that deal with books, and the analysis of the concept of the book as a trinity consisting of a soul, a subtle body and a gross body. Ranganathan’s reflection on the concept of Bibliography leads him to emphasise once again the ever contemporary dimension of the library as a social institution.

Keywords

• physical bibliography
• social bibliography
• s.r. ranganathan