Describe the various reasons that build up

the concept of CL
• Increased interaction among professionals;
• Increase in literature on this subject;
• Initiation of journals exclusively devoted to this subject;
• Introduction of comparative librarianship as a sub-discipline in library
school curricula; and
• Coming into existence of professional bodies to serve the cause of
comparative and international librarianship
1.Increased interaction among professionals;

FID and IFLA attained truly international character in the Fifties, Sixties
and Seventies. These bodies encouraged international cooperation and
exchange of ideas and individuals. In 1957, FID/CR organized the first
International Conference on Classification Research at Dorking, UK. IFLA
for the first time organized an International Conference on Cataloguing
Principles in Paris in 1961.
 It had drawn up a ‘long-term program’ in 1964 and published it under
the title Libraries in the World. When FID was taking interest in the field
of classification, IFLA took interest in cataloguing. The International
Meeting of Cataloguing Experts in 1969 and the final outcome of ISBDs
are some of the important contributions of IFLA to world librarianship.
 In the Seventies FID’s Universal Bibliographical Control (UBC) and
Broad System for Ordering (BSO) brought new dimensions to
international librarianship. Of all, the role played by UNESCO remains
outstanding. The UNESCO Bulletin for Libraries started in mid Forties
did a yeoman service for international and comparative librarianship.
It has provided expert assistance for developing countries in the
establishment of library systems and providing library services. It has
brought out a variety of documents which provided an international
approach and developed cross-culture in librarianship.
 2. INCREASE IN LITERATURE

A number of books on comparative and international librarianship

started appearing in the Sixties. Chief promoters of this kind of
literature are Messrs Asheim, Danton, Bone, Wormann, Foskett,
Thomton, Simsova and MacKee, Harrison, Penna and others. Apart
from books, scores of papers were published in professional journals.
These covered the following areas:
• International library cooperation;
• History of librarianship;
• Library planning;
• Librarianship in developing countries;
• International exchange of publication; and
• Comparative methods of library education and services.
 3. NEW JOURNALS

A number of new journals exclusively meant for comparative

librarianship were started. At the same time, some general professional
journals too gave much coverage to this subject. Important among are:
• International Library Review;
• Journal of librarianship;
• Libri;
• Library Quarterly;
• Library trends ; and
• Unesco Bulletin for Libraries.

Further, FID Bulletin and IFLA News Letter also give wide coverage to
international events.
 4. LIBRARY CURRICULA

Comparative and international librarianship emerged as a discipline in

library school curricula in the late Sixties and in India in the early
Seventies. A perusal of the curricula reveals that the following areas are
comprehended under this head:
• Definition;
• Scope;
• History;
• International understanding and cooperation;
• Practices and problems;
• Studies pertaining to specific areas;
• Role of international organizations; etc.
 5. PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

As mentioned earlier FID, IFLA and UNESCO have been playing an

important role in comparative and international librarianship. Besides
these organizations, the following international organizations are also
contributing to the cause of comparative and international
librarianship:
• International Society for Performing Arts, Libraries and Museums
(1927);
• International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (1938);
• International Federation of Film Archives (1939);
• Council of National Library Association (1942)
• International Council of Archives (1948);
• International Youth Libraries (1949);
• International Committee for Social Science Documentation (1950);
• International Association for Mass Communication Research (1952);