SPT 102: Special and Public Librarianship

Second Semester SY 2019-2020

An Overview of Special Library Management

I. The Special Library: Definition, Purpose and Objectives

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 member 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.

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 (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.

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.

According to Wolfrodurf Laux of the Federal Biological Research in Germany, special libraries are
impossible to define by means of its collection alone. The origins must be considered. As a result of the
rapid development of science and technology and the realization of their results within industrial
research and manufacture, new information requirements arose since the end of the last century which
was not served sufficiently by the mainly humane oriented large libraries.

II. Development of Special Libraries

On July 2, 1909, twenty six (26) libraries 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”. 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 1950s, 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.

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”.

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
SPT 102: Special and Public Librarianship
Second Semester SY 2019-2020

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.

There are many associations of special libraries throughout the different parts of the worlds. 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. Angelina Cabanero was the first
ASLP president. ASLP 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).

The following are the well-known special libraries or parent institutions of special libraries in the
Philippines.

• Asian Development Bank (ADM)

• Asian Institute of Management (AIM)
• Energy Research and Development Center (ERDC) under the Philippine National Oil
Company (PNOC)
• International Center for Living and Aquatic Resources (ICLAR)
• International Rice Research Institute (IRRI( Library and Documentation Center
• MERALCO
• Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research (PCARR)
• Population Center Foundation (PCF)
• Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)
• San Miguel Corporation Human Resource Library Division
• Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC)
• Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Education
Innovation and Technology Resource Center (SEAMEO-INNOTECH)

III. Types of Special Libraries

Special libraries have different types. They may be:

• Research
• Corporate or Industrial
• Government
• Institutional

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 sometime called

• Information Center (IC)

SPT 102: Special and Public Librarianship
Second Semester SY 2019-2020

• Learning Resource Center (LRC)

• Corporate information center
• Business information center and so on which signifies a broader scope and higher level
of service.

IV. Distinguishing Characteristics

Special libraries are distinguished from other types of libraries by their

1. 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. The mission, which is “information service tailored to fit the
needs of the organization) is the reason they exist.
2. Location
➢ Special libraries are usually found in private and business organizations while others
serve the state and its government, or in non-profit organization, and so on. They are
considered as units of larger organization.
3. Client
➢ Special libraries serve a well-defined group of users
4. Subject scope/orientation
➢ Special libraries are oriented to a single subject or related subjects. This is determined
by the field of activity or interest of the parent organization.
5. Size (smallness)
➢ Usually, special libraries consist of lean personnel, small space and small collection.
6. Presence of a professional librarians 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.
7. 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 buying stocks, holiday cash bonuses,
educational support, and payment of expenses for professional conferences, travel and
more.