Information Needs and Seeking Behaviour of Artisans in Nnewi Industrial Market, Anambra State

This study investigated the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of artisans operating in the Nnewi Industrial Market in Anambra State, South East Nigeria. Artisans represent a significant segment of the informal economy, yet their information needs are frequently overlooked in library and information science research and service planning. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were collected from 200 artisans across five trade categories using a structured questionnaire. Findings revealed that artisans required information on technical skills, spare parts sourcing, pricing, market demand, and government trade policies. Informal information sources, particularly colleagues, trade associations, and mobile phones, were the most frequently consulted, while libraries were largely ignored. The study identified limited awareness of library services, functional illiteracy among some respondents, and inconvenient library hours as key barriers to formal information use. It recommended that public libraries in commercial towns develop outreach programmes tailored to the information needs of artisans, including mobile library services and community information boards. Keywords: information needs, information-seeking behaviour, artisans, Nnewi, informal sector.