Abstract

 The study investigated information needs and seeking behaviour of people with special needs: The Blind. The specific objectives were to: identify information sources available at Afara Special School of the blind, Umuahia, Abia state; identify the information needs of the blind physically challenged; ascertain the information sources the blind use to meet their needs; ascertain challenges they encounter in the use of the information sources and explore ways through which information services could be improved for them. The study was carried out using descriptive survey research design. The population ofthis study consisted of 43 human resources and managers which includes teaching and non-teaching staff and 102 students making a total of 145. The instrument used for data collection is the interview. The collected data were presented in tables and analyzed using frequency and mean. The study found that the blind and physically challenged need information for their development socially, personally, recreationally, skilfully, educationally and vocationally and they source this information through talking books, tape recorders, Braille books, Digital Accessible Information Systems, libraries, E-books, computer workstations. Challenges that affect their information use include the absence of library orientation programs, insufficient library materials, inadequate reading equipment, lack of technology, inadequate personnel (Librarian) and inadequate library space amongst others. Based on the findings, the study recommended that: the special school should add three-dimensional models; apparatus to be modified, an electronic light probe to be used for exploring parts inaccessible to fingers, skeleton, and pictures which shall be useful to the blind students, the special school needs additional assertive devices including personal computers with speech output to access information and enough qualified personnel with special skills to teach the students with visual impairmentsfor them to move safely should be recruited. Keywords: Information need, seeking behaviour, physically challenged, The Blind