Since its launch in 2009, the EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP) has supported piloting of 49 new public library projects in 27 developing and transition economy countries, including 21 projects in eight countries in Africa. Through this work, EIFL-PLIP has constructed ‘a road map’ for successful development of new services in public libraries. The starting point on the map is community needs assessment.

This paper, titled 'Public library’s golden pathway to successful service: understanding community needs', discusses the value of community needs assessment in new service design and suggests simple, effective and affordable community needs assessment methodologies for public libraries operating in low-resource environments.

Presented by EIFL-PLIP manager, Ramune Petuchovaite, at the Second African Public Libraries Summit (Swaziland, 30 April – 1 May 2016).

See also Understanding community needs: Golden pathway to a successful public library service, the PowerPoint presentation that accompanied the paper.