Information Behavior and Accessibility: Examining How Differently-Abled Students Use Academic Library Services in India

Abstract

Supporting the academic success of students with disabilities in higher education requires access to inclusive information environments. The information behavior and accessibility experiences of students with disabilities utilizing academic library services in a few Indian universities were investigated in this study. 120 students' survey responses were combined with qualitative information from semi-structured interviews using a mixed-methods approach. The findings demonstrated that even while a large number of students frequently accessed library resources, their perception of accessibility remained poor, and that systemic obstacles including insufficient assistive technology, restricted physical infrastructure, and unprepared staff members had an impact on their involvement. According to statistical analysis, there were no appreciable variations in accessibility perceptions among the various types of disabilities, suggesting that difficulties were shared by all. These results emphasize the necessity of extensive institutional changes to establish academic library environments that are more welcoming and easily accessible.