Students with Special Needs and Their Quest For Higher Learning: Role of the Academic Libraries in the Selected Higher Education Institutes in the North Eastern Region of India

LIBRARY HERALD

Year : 2025, Volume : 63, Issue : 2

First page : (287) Last page : (297)

Print ISSN : 0024-2292. Online ISSN : 0976-2469.

Article DOI : 10.5958/0976-2469.2025.00020.8

Students with Special Needs and Their Quest For Higher Learning: Role of the Academic Libraries in the Selected Higher Education Institutes in the North Eastern Region of India

Esther Moirangthem1, Bobby Phuritsabam2

1 Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Library and Information Science, Manipur University, Manipur, India

2 Assistant Professor (S-3), Department of Library and Information Science, Manipur University, Manipur, India

Abstract 

This paper surveys the information seeking nature, and the complexities confronted by the Students with Special Needs (SSN) in their pursuit of higher education in the Central Institutes located in North Eastern Region of India. The survey research methodology was adopted for the qualitative data collection using structured questionnaires. A total of 108 SSN from thirteen institutes were surveyed in this case study. The observations revealed the diverse confrontations faced by them in terms of physical infrastructure, library resources, appropriate media format, and absence of understanding. This main objective of the study is to highlight the disparities that presently exist between the inclusive practices in the libraries under investigation and the information demands of this type of student community. The researchers have come to the conclusion that a suitable policy framework and appropriate funding allocation may be the primary methods of eradicating obstacles to inclusive and equitable library access in order to meet the information requirements of this population of SSN. This conclusion is based on the results and recommendations made by the respondents.

Keywords 

Students with Special Needs (SSN), Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), North Eastern Region of India, Academic Library, Inclusivity, Information seeking behavior