Abstract

Newspapers remain an indispensable source of information, current affairs, and general awareness, playing a pivotal role in shaping public opinion and fostering intellectual growth within academic communities. The present study is an empirical effort to investigate the newspaper reading habits among active library users at the Raja Mahendra Pratap Library, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. The primary purpose of the study is to evaluate how regular library visitors engage with daily newspapers, determining their frequency of reading and preferred language options (e.g., Hindi vs. English). Using a descriptive survey research design, data was gathered through a structured questionnaire distributed to library users across various departments and academic levels. The key parameters examined include the duration of time devoted daily to reading, primary motives behind reading, and specific columns or sections of interest. The study highlights distinct user trends regarding time allocation, reading priorities (such as competitive examination preparation, current affairs, or general entertainment), and preferences for specific newspaper sections like editorial columns, national news, sports, and educational features. Ultimately, these findings offer valuable insights for university librarians to optimize serial subscriptions.

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