Challenges in Meeting User Needs at Public Libraries in Murshidabad District, West Bengal, India: An Investigative Study
Himan Chowdhury, Saira Khan · Public Library Quarterly · 2025
This study examines the barriers to fulfilling the wide range of needs of public library users in Murshidabad district. Using a descriptive research methodology, the study incorporated focus groups and in-depth interviews with community stakeholders, library employees, and patrons. The study points out a number of significant issues, such as insufficient staff, low funding, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of technology integration. The findings reveal disparity between the library services and the expectations of users. The study concludes with recommendations for policy improvements, budget allocation, staff deployments, and strategic planning to better align library services with user needs and expectations.