Activating the role of the public library towards Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Kuwait

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), according to the latest figures and studies, affects a large segment of people who need more services from all fields in their countries whether they be the educational sector, health sector, or others. Public libraries are considered to be one of the most important sources of information for the whole community. Furthermore, the core aim of this type of library is to identify community needs, to provide materials, programs and technologies to meet those needs, and to cooperate with other agencies and organisations which serve the community as a whole. Although individuals with ASD are considered an important part of the population of the State of Kuwait, libraries and public libraries, in particular, do not pay attention to this segment for several reasons, such as lack of sufficient awareness of ASD. Public libraries` services to individuals with ASD are not clear and need to be investigated. This research attempts to investigate the new role of public libraries in order to serve individuals with ASD and their families in the Kuwait. Data was gathered from individuals with ASD and/or their families by using questionnaires and by interviews with 27 librarians in Kuwaiti public libraries.