The first law is the most elemental. It states: "books are for use." A library should not be a warehouse because it contains resources that the public needs. Librarians actively promote books to keep them jumping off the shelves through booklists, reviews, displays and book clubs. Librarians also "weed" books by removing out-of-date items to allow space for new items. In this way, patrons receive the latest novels and resources that fit the needs of their local community.
The next law, "every person his or her book," insists that libraries must be accessible to everyone, according to "The Measurement and Evaluation of Library Services" by Sharon Baker and Wilfred Lancaster. Librarians consider all patrons important and do not discriminate. From children running to find Winnie the Pooh to serious academic researchers, patron interests vary but are well-known to librarians, who review new books and library trends to meet their needs.
Ranganathan's third law, "every book its reader," means that librarians respect different book genres because each type of book may be a favorite to at least one reader. Most people, for example, mock romance books but librarians know that romance readers are voracious readers and often finish as many as five books a week. This law also means that librarians introduce patrons to the different resources in the library.
A librarian acts as a liaison between the patron and the information he needs and does exactly what Ranganathan's fourth law states, the librarian "saves the time of the reader." By knowing which resources contain the facts needed by a researcher, a reference librarian can save precious time. A librarian helps in little ways, as well, such as leading the patron to the book that she wants without criticizing her for not knowing how to use the Dewey Decimal system, or by giving tips to the patron on the way.
A library must grow to fit its patrons' needs so librarians always embrace change, thus fulfilling the fifth law, "a library is a growing organism." This has never been truer than in today's technological society where online catalogs, ebooks and databases have become staples in libraries, which now have both physical and online locations. Librarians keep up with the latest technology to help patrons and research current trends by reading trade journals and participating in continuing education classes and seminars.