LIBRARY SERVICES FOR THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED USERS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN PURBA MEDINIPUR, PASCHIM MEDINIPUR AND JHARGRAM DISTRICT

Abstract: Differently abled is a term for someone who might formerly have been classed asdisabled, handicapped, challenged, or having special needs. It can apply to people withpredominantly physical or mental challenges. The description is thought to be morepolitically correct in some circles because it recognizes that even if people have mentaland/or physical impairments, they still have abilities, contrary to the picture painted with theterms disabled or handicapped. This study focuses on the library services provide by thepublic libraries for differently abled users. This study tries to depict the picture of thetechnologies and software that are useful in providing the services to the differently-abledusers. This study reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the public libraries in West Bengalserving the people with various disabilities namely blindness, low vision, hearing difficulties,mobility problems, etc.