Emerging roles of libraries in the Digital Era: A comprehensive user perception study at Hindu College, Sonipat

Technological progress has completely altered the landscape of educational libraries, evolving them from mere collections of physical books into lively centers for online education, remote support, smart search mechanisms using artificial intelligence, and advanced systems for organizing information. This hands-on research examines how college libraries are adapting to this tech-focused environment by closely looking at what users think at Hindu College in Sonipat a prominent institution providing a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in humanities, business, and sciences.Using a questionnaire available in both English and Hindi, we gathered firsthand information from 200 students and 40 faculty and staff (total sample size of 240, with everyone responding) in December 2025. The survey covered topics like how often people use the library, their knowledge of online materials, what they like or dislike, obstacles they face, how happy they are with services, and ideas for improvements. We crunched the numbers using basic stats like counts and percentages in Microsoft Excel, and grouped open-ended answers into common themes. Graphs such as pie charts and tables help make the information clearer.Main discoveries point to a clear move toward technology: 58% favor online materials compared to just 10% for printed ones, and 42% access digital content weekly versus 38% visiting in person that often. People mainly go for personal learning (35%) and checking out electronic materials (18%). About 72% learn about these through introductory sessions and emails, but issues remain 70% mention unreliable internet, 43% point to weak facilities, and 40% note insufficient guidance. Overall, 60% are content or very content, with the library's preparedness scoring an average of 3.2 out of 5. Faculty appreciate help with studies, while learners focus on project support.Breaking it down by field, science majors lead with 65% preferring digital, then business at 58% and humanities at 52%. Free-form comments stress better wireless access (76%), frequent training sessions (70%), and specialized tech helpers (50%). When compared to country-wide standards from INFLIBNET documents, these facility shortcomings appear common in mid-tier schools.Our research suggests a structured approach with five key areas for tech upgrades: (1) Boosting facilities, (2) Required tech skills training, (3) Increasing subscriptions to online content, (4)Mobile app development, and (5) Institutional repository creation. These practical suggestions aim to make Hindu College's library a benchmark for local tech evolution, improving learning results even with limited funds. This work offers useful advice for decision-makers, library professionals, and school leaders dealing with today's tech-savvy students.