ABOUT LIS

To provide right information to the right user at the right time 

NAME OF THE SUBJECT

Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) used the term "Library economy" for class 19 in its first edition from 1876. In the second edition (and all subsequent editions) it was moved to class 20. The term "Library economy" was used until (and including) 14th edition (1942). From the 15th edition (1951) class 20 was termed Library Science, which was used until (and including) 17th edition (1965) when it was replaced by "Library and Information Sciences" (LIS) from 18th ed. (1971) and forward. 
 

DEFINITION

Library and Information Science is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and other areas to libraries; the collection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information resources; and the political economy of information. 

HISTORY

Library and Information Science, the principles and practices of library operation and administration, and their study. Libraries have existed since ancient times, but only in the second half of the 19th century did library science emerge as a separate field of study. With the knowledge explosion in the 20th century, it was gradually subsumed under the more general field of information science. The first American school for library science was founded by Melvil Dewey at Columbia University in 1887. 

BRITISH LIBRARY

Gabriel Naudé (2 February 1600 – 10 July 1653) wrote the first textbook on library science: Advice on Establishing a Library (1627). A French librarian and scholar, Naudé wrote prolifically, producing works on many subjects including politics, religion, history and the supernatural. He put into practice all the ideas he put forth in Advice when given the opportunity to build and maintain the library of Cardinal Jules Mazarin. 
 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

By the second half of the 19th century, Western countries had experienced such a proliferation of books of all sorts that the nature of the librarian’s work was radically altered; being well-read was no longer a sufficient characteristic for the post. The librarian needed some means of easy and rapid identification as well as strong organizational and administrative skills, and the necessity for specialized training soon became clear. One of the earliest pioneers in library training in the United States was Melvil Dewey, who established the first training program for librarians in 1887. These training programs in the United States evolved into graduate programs in library education accredited by the American Library Association (ALA; founded 1876).

Later, the term was used in the title of S. R. Ranganathan's The Five Laws of Library Science, published in 1931, and in the title of Lee Pierce Butler's 1933 book, An introduction to library science (University of Chicago Press).

William Stetson Merrill's A Code for Classifiers, released in several editions from 1914 to 1939, is an example of a more pragmatic approach, where arguments stemming from in-depth knowledge about each field of study is employed to recommend a system of classification.

Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan (August 9, 1892, Sirkali, Tamil Nadu – September 27, 1972, Bangalore) was a mathematician and librarian from India. His most notable contributions to the field were his five laws of library science and the development of the first major analytico-synthetic classification system, the colon classification. 

LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA

The digital age has transformed how information is accessed and retrieved. The library is now a part of a complex and dynamic educational, recreational, and informational infrastructure. The evolution of the library sciences maintains its mission of access equity and community space, as well as, the new means for information retrieval called Information Literacy Skills. All catalogues, databases, and a growing number of books are all available on the Internet. Information literacy skills are the ability to navigate, retrieve, and assess webpages, library catalogues, databases, which all require computer skills and critical thinking to retrieve accurate information.



REFERENCES: 

Dewey Decimal Classification

Versuch eines vollständigen Lehrbuchs der Bibliothek-Wissenschaft. Oder, Anleitung zur vollkommenen Geschäftsführung eines Bibliothekars. In wissenschaftlicher Form abgefasst. München. (2 bind).Google books: Bd 1: http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nnc1.cu08321752 ; Bd 2: http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nnc1.cu08321760

Harris, Michael H. History of Libraries in the Western World. 4th ed. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow, 1995. 3 - "The distinction between a library and an archive is relatively modern"
 
books.google.no/books/about/Code_for_classifiers.html?id=9sCdQ9JBxQQC&redir_esc=y

Rubin, Richard E (2010). Foundations of LIbrary and Information Science. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers. p. 1. ISBN 978-1555706906.

Encyclopaedia Britannica

Wikipedia