The most popular term “Comparative Librarianship” was first used in 1954, when Chase Dane published two articles based on his experience of a study group at the GLS (Graduate Library school) of the University of Chicago.

1. INTRODUCTION:
The most popular term “Comparative Librarianship” was first used in 1954, when
Chase Dane published two articles based on his experience of a study group at the
GLS (Graduate Library school) of the University of Chicago. Title of the two articles
are―
 Comparative Librarianship [Librarian 43(8), August, 1954, PP-141-144]
 The benefit of Comparative Librarianship [Australian Library Journal 3(3),July, 1954, PP-89-91]
In the next 10 years, the term didn’t appear in the title of any publication, until the
W.W.Bishop’s memorial lecture given by D.J.Foskett at the University of Michigan in
1964. A summary of the lecture can be found in two publication which are given
below―
 Comparative Librarianship [Library world, 66(780), June, 1965- PP-25-35]
 Comparative Librarianship [Progress in Library Science, 1965, PP-125-146]
In the same year Carl.M.White published a chapter on “Comparative Study of Library
System” in basis of Modern Librarianship [Pergumum press, 1964] edited by
Carl.M.White.
After that comparative librarianship becomes popular to other authors. Now-a-days
it is an important tropics of librarianship.

2. Definition of Comparative Librarianship:
• According to Chase Dane, “It is study of library development in many
countries to discover what developments have been successful and can be
copied elsewhere. It is an examination of the philosophies and polices if
librarianship on an international scale to determine long-range trends to
appraise shortcomings and to uncover contradictions and inconsistencies
between practice and theory. Above all it is the study of the cause and
effect of library development throughout the world.
• According to Louis Shores, “It is the study and comparison of library theory
practice in all of different parts of the countries of the world for the
purpose of broadening and deepening our understanding of professional
problems & solutions.
• According to Periam Dalton, “The analysis of libraries, library systems, some
aspects of librarianship or library problems in two or more national, cultural
or social environment in terms of socio-political, economic, cultural,
ideological and historical context. This analysis is for the purpose of
understanding the underling and differences and for determining
explanations of the differences with the ultimate aim of trying to arrive at
valid generalizations and principles.

3. Comparative Librarianship:
It is study of two or more libraries in terms of their
development, practice and relative merits and documents of
the various practices; and general aspects of librarianship.
Library development in terms of the historical, geographical,
social, cultural, political, economic and other factors.
It has two factors, viz:
– Comparison of library situations and
– Comparison of librarianship and library development in general in different geographical situations.
The comparison of library situations covers―
i. Development
ii. Operations and
iii. Merits & demerits.

4. International Librarianship:
It is one sense of comparative librarianship at
international level. It is also another sense of aims
international understanding and co-operation in
librarianship.
In other words, international librarianship also has
two aspects, viz:
– Comparison of library practices and
– Evolving means of library co-operation and understanding at international level.
The comparison of library practices covers:
• Development
• Operations and
• Merits & Demerits.

5. Difference between Comparative &
International Librarianship:
a. To sum-up, comparative studies need not to be in different countries (though
most usually it is so). International librarianship involves studies of library
situation in various countries.
b. Comparative librarianship is an old concept but international librarianship is a
recent one.
c. Comparative librarianship searches for “cause and effect” in library
development, whereas international librarianship is an approach for
“international understanding and co-operation.
d. Comparative librarianship, basically, communicates in the one nation but
international librarianship makes communication among two or more
countries.
e. Comparative librarianship is the base of international librarianship, whereas
international librarianship is a follower of comparative librarianship.

6. Comparative & International Librarianship
in Library School:
Library school in the United States of America and else where are
quick in relating the importance of international and comparative
librarianship and have institute courses of formal study in the
field.
From two schools in 1962, the USA has come a long way an in
1972 more than 50 library schools in the USA and six schools in
Canada are offering courses of International Librarianship.
North Western Polytechnic and University College, London in UK
are now offering instruction in this area. Advanced Institutes of
Librarianship in Moscow, Kharkov in international and comparative
librarianship.

7. Types of Comparative Librarianship:
According to Dorothy G.Colloing, there are three types of comparative librarianship, viz:
a) Area studies
b) Cross national or cross cultural studies and
c) Case studies
Their description are furnished below:
a) Area studies:
These type of studies provide a descriptive survey and critical
analysis of library development in given country or region in the context of relevant
determinant background factors.
These try to―
 Evolve general patters of library system.
 Evolve services and operations in a particular region or country.
 Cause and effect for each library problems and
 Suggest solutions to the problems.
Examples:
1. K.C. Harrison’s Libraries in Scandinavia (1962)
2. W.V.Jackson’s Aspects of Librarianship in Latin America [1962]
3. E.J.A. Evans, “A Tipical Library Service [1964]

8. b) Cross National or Cross cultural studies:
These are of―
1. A type of library examined in a number of countries such as university libraries.
2. A technical library problem as dealt with in two or more countries (or different
situations/culture in the same country), such as classification, automation or book
selection.
These are try to―
I. Compare the library systems; services and operations in two or more regions, or
countries;
II. Study technical problems as dealt in two or more regions, or countries, and
III. Suggest what could be adopted to advantage.
Examples:
i. H.C. Campball, “Metropolitan Public Library Planning throughout the world [1967]
ii. J.P. Danton, “Book selection and collection: A comparison of German & American University Libraries
[1963]

9. c) Case Studies:
Such studies provide analysis in depth of a type of library or key factor in library
development, such as library education in a publication country. These are the
intensive study of a particular library problem or development in one country
also forms an important category of literature in the field of Comparative
Librarianship.
Examples:
1. Lowell Martin, “Library response to urban change : a study of Chicago Public Library [1969]
2. Leon Carnovsky’s “Report of the National Library Committee [1969]
Cross Cultural:
Dealing with or comparing two or more countries.
Cross National:
Relation to or involving two or more countries.

10. Goals of Comparative Librarianship:
It work to fulfill the following the goals―
• To provide guidelines for a proposal new library program.
• To contribute to the critical analysis and solution of widely found
library problems viewed in their respective contexts.
• To help co-operation in library planning.
• Exchanging of ideas, information and knowledge.
• Broadening and deepening our understanding of professional
challenges and solutions.
• To develop useful polices, principles or laws and to understand them
thoroughly.
• To bring forward the standard of library system and that of also the
other countries.

11. Benefits of Comparative Librarianship:
There are many number of benefits of comparative
librarianship. The most common are given below:
– It helps to determine the philosophy of librarianship.
– It helps in widespread adaption of sound polices.
– It reduces the conflicting ideas of library services.
– It improves the relation among the professionals of the world.
– It helps to exchange to ideas among library scientist throughout
the world.
– It increases and exchanges the standard of library services.
– It helps to develop the library profession.

12. Conclusion:
From the above discussion we can include that the comparative
librarianship’s concept is old but systematic studies in this field are of
the resent part. Interest in this field has been increasing since the
sixties. It started finding a place in the library school curriculum from
the early seventies. Library association and international organizations
have given support for such studies. Library journal specializing in this
area started appearing. Increase in the number of international
organizations increased in the interest in comparative librarianship.
Such studies aim at bringing both qualitative and quantitative changes
in library operations and studies.