The most popular term “Comparative Librarianship” (CL) 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 publications 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” on the basis of Modern Librarianship [Pergumum press, 1964] edited by Carl.M.White.
After that CL becomes popular with other authors. Nowadays it is an important topic of librarianship.
Definition of Comparative Librarianship:
There are numerous definitions are being in the term of CL which all are not equally important. Some important definitions are as follows:
- According to Chase Dane, “It is the 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 the 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 underlying and differences and for determining explanations of the differences with the ultimate aim of trying to arrive at valid generalizations and principles.”
Types of Comparative Librarianship:
According to Dorothy G.Colloing, there are three types of CL, viz:
a) Area studies
b) Cross-national or cross-cultural studies and
c) Case studies
Their descriptions are furnished below:
a) Area studies: These types of studies provide a descriptive survey and critical analysis of library development in a given country or region in the context of relevant determinant background factors.
These try to―
- Evolve general patters of the 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.
- K.C. Harrison’s Libraries in Scandinavia (1962)
- W.V.Jackson’s Aspects of Librarianship in Latin America 
- E.J.A. Evans, “A Typical Library Service 
b) Cross-National or Cross-cultural studies:
These are of―
- A type of library examined in a number of countries such as university libraries.
- A technical library problem as dealt with within two or more countries (or different situations/cultures in the same country), such as classification, automation, or book selection.
These are trying to―
- Compare the library systems; services and operations in two or more regions, or countries;
- Study technical problems as dealt in two or more regions, or countries, and
- Suggest what could be adopted to advantage.
- H.C. Campbell, “Metropolitan Public Library Planning throughout the world 
- J.P. Danton, “Book selection and collection: A comparison of German & American University Libraries 
c) Case Studies: Such studies provide analysis 