purpose: this paper describes a comprehensive user survey carried out in china to investigate public needs for government information service in libraries. it is expected to provide insights into the ways to help public libraries meet the user needs.

design/methodology/approach: the paper is founded on a survey among library users, librarians and non-library users. paper questionnaires were distributed in the national library of china and 32 provincial public libraries in china and electronic questionnaires were sent to non-library users. a total of 909 valid questionnaires were collected.

findings: a lot of attention is paid to policies, laws and regulations relating to common people's work and lives such as science, technology, education, culture, finance, market supervision, health care, sports, urban construction and environment protection. a wide variety of government information resources is needed and information delivered to users shall be accurate and timely. internet has become the main means of accessing government information and mobile phones the preferred web access channel, while printed materials are considered important information sources. users need assistance and training in the use of library information resources and services.

research limitations: the sample was limited to respondents from provincial-level public libraries, but city and county-level library users were not included.

practical implications: the survey results are beneficial for the chinese public libraries to design service programs and improve their services.

originality/value: the paper is one of the comprehensive surveys on public needs for government information service in the chinese libraries and some of the findings will be of wider interest for other libraries.

purpose: this paper describes a comprehensive user survey carried out in china to investigate public needs for government information service in libraries. it is expected to provide insights into the ways to help public libraries meet the user needs.

design/methodology/approach: the paper is founded on a survey among library users, librarians and non-library users. paper questionnaires were distributed in the national library of china and 32 provincial public libraries in china and electronic questionnaires were sent to non-library users. a total of 909 valid questionnaires were collected.

findings: a lot of attention is paid to policies, laws and regulations relating to common people's work and lives such as science, technology, education, culture, finance, market supervision, health care, sports, urban construction and environment protection. a wide variety of government information resources is needed and information delivered to users shall be accurate and timely. internet has become the main means of accessing government information and mobile phones the preferred web access channel, while printed materials are considered important information sources. users need assistance and training in the use of library information resources and services.

research limitations: the sample was limited to respondents from provincial-level public libraries, but city and county-level library users were not included.

practical implications: the survey results are beneficial for the chinese public libraries to design service programs and improve their services.

originality/value: the paper is one of the comprehensive surveys on public needs for government information service in the chinese libraries and some of the findings will be of wider interest for other libraries.