Abstract

The paper is focused on redesigning of library services to meet the needs of children and young adults with special needs. The study aims at examining the issues from the perspective of public libraries in developing countries: The highlights of the paper include the nature of children and young adults with special needs, rationale for providing special library services to children and young adults with special needs, areas of public library services that require redesigning. Skills and competences required for effective library service provision to children and young adult with special needs, challenges to providing library services to children with special needs. Recommendations were made in line with the studies.

Keywords: Children’s Library, Library Services, Public Libraries, Young People

Biography

Christian O. ENYIA is the Polytechnic Librarian of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. He holds MLS, BLS and is a Doctoral student of Delta State University, Abraka. His areas of interest spans across Public Libraries, Business Information and Library Automation

Victor Oyemike BENSON is a Library and Information Science practitioner at the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede Library, Owerri. He is the Head of ICT/E-Library Unit Federal Polytechnic, Nekede Library, Owerri. He has MLS, B.Ed, and HND in Library and Information Science. His areas of interest are Public Library Management, Entrepreneurship, Marketing of Information Services, ICT, and School Librarianship.

Charis O. ONUOHA is a lecturer with the Department of Library & Information Science, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, Nigeria. She has MLS in Library and Information Science and a doctoral student of Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State Nigeria.