SPECIAL LIBRARY:
DEFINITION,
OBJECTIVES AND
FUNCTIONS
BY KRYSTEL VAIL MARIE D. RIO
INTRODUCTION
• A special library is a library that is established, supported, and administered
by a business firm, private corporation, association, government agency, or
other special-interest groups or agency to meet the information needs of the
members or staff of the parent institution in pursuing organizational goals.
• It provides focused, working information to a special clientele on an on-
going basis to further the mission and goals of the parent organization. It
makes whatever knowledge or whatever experience that may further the
activities of the organization.
INTRODUCTION
• The special library deals with a specialized clientele, or with
specialized materials, or a combination of both.
• According to Polly Beam of Rutgers University Special Libraries
Association (RUSLA), special libraries are hard to define. There is no
clear cut line for what is or what not a special library is.
• So, they tend to be in private, non-profit, and government organizations
which serve the information needs of those organizations rather than
the information needs of the general public.
INTRODUCTION
• The special library collects books, magazines, and other library materials
related to certain fields of subjects.
• They cater to specific professional or academic groups whose information
needs are defined by a particular subject or activity.
• Special libraries, sometimes referred to as information centers, are located to
a multitude of settings, including large corporations, government agencies,
health institutions, print and electronic media organizations, law firms, not-
for-profit organizations, and college campuses.
DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIAL
LIBRARIES
• On July 2, 1909, twenty six (26) librarians congregated at Bretton
Woods in New Hampshire.
• This marked the birth of the Special Libraries Association (SLA).
• John Cotton Dana is the founder of the association. The motto of
the SLA was quoted by John A. Lapp, which is “putting
knowledge to work.”
DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIAL
LIBRARIES
• In 1910, there were already approximately 100 special libraries. In
1920, it grew to 1,000; and in 1935, the number reached 1.500. In
the 1950’s, the number increased up to 5,000. Fifteen years later,
(1965), the number was more than twice (10,500). The present
number is approximately 19,000 and still counting.
DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIAL
LIBRARIES
• In the Philippines, Rufo Buenviaje is considered as the father of
special librarianship. Juan C. Buenrostro, Jr. was the writer of
the first book published in the Philippines in 1995 entitled “The
management of Special Libraries and Information Centers.”
DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIAL
LIBRARIES
• The growth of special libraries is owed to three basic factors:
• information explosion
• advances in computer and information technologies
• the existence of an information society
• The flourishing of special libraries and information centers us a reflection
of their success in responding to the recent trends and the needs of their
parent organizations for efficient and effective information handling and
management.
DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIAL
LIBRARIES
• There are many associations of special libraries throughout the
different parts of the world. In the United States, The Special
Libraries Association (SLA) is the most prominent. The SLA
publishes a directory of special libraries and information centers.
• Also, there are locally-established special libraries associations in
the Philippines. The Association of Special Libraries in the
Philippines (ASLP) may be the most popular.
DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIAL
LIBRARIES
• Angelina Cabanero was the first ASLP president. ASALP has its
own publication – the ASLP Bulletin.
• Other local special libraries associations are the Medical and
Health Librarians’ Association of the Philippines (MAHLAP)
and the Agricultural Librarians’ Association of the Philippines
(ALAP).
DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIAL
LIBRARIES
The following are the well-known special libraries or parent institutions of special
libraries in the Philippines:
• Asian Development Bank (ADB) • Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources
Research (PCARR)
• Asian Institute of Management (AIM)
• Population Center Foundation (PCF)
• Energy Research and Development Center (ERDC)
• Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)
under the Philippine National Oil Company
(PNOC). • San Miguel Corporation Human Resource Library
• International Center for Living and Aquatic Division
Resources (ICLAR) • Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center
• International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Library (SEAFDEC)
and Documentation Center • Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization
• MERALCO Regional Center for Education Innovation and
Technology Resource Center (SEAMEO-INNOTECH)
TYPES OF SPECIAL LIBRARIES
• Special libraries have different types. They may be
research
corporate or industrial
government
institutional
TYPES OF SPECIAL LIBRARIES
• Most of the time, names of special libraries assume the form name of the
parent institution + “Library” to indicate the subject scope or clientele (e.g.
Technical Library, Business Library, Corporate Library, and so forth).
• A special library is sometimes called
• information center (IC)
• learning resource center (LRC)
• corporate information center
• business information center, and so on which signifies a broader scope
and higher level of service.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
• Special libraries are distinguished from other types of libraries by their :
• Information function - The main goal of most special libraries is to provide focused
working information for their clientele on a continuing basis to promote and support the
mission and goals of the parent institution. This mission, which is “information service
tailored to fit the needs of the organization) is the reason why they exist.
• Location - Special libraries are usually found in private and business organizations while
others serve the state and its government, or in non-profit organizations, and so on. They are
considered as units of larger organizations.
• Client - Special libraries serve a well-defined group of users.
• Subject scope/orientation - Special libraries are oriented to a single subject or related
subjects. This is determined by the field of activity or interests of the parent organization.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
• Size (smallness) - Usually, special libraries consist of lean personnel, small space, and
small collection.
• Presence of a professional librarian and the variety of his/her responsibilities - It is
the expertise of the librarian which distinguishes the active special library.
Responsibilities include reference service, cataloging, selection and acquisition,
management, subject expertise, and so on.
• Salary - Typically, the salary and compensation offered to the special library staff are
higher than other types of libraries. There are opportunities for career advancement in
a short span of time, and other benefits are fringed like busying stocks, holiday cash
bonuses, educational support, payment of expenses for professional conferences,
travel, and more.
