public libraries and its challenges in selected woredas of Gamoa Gofa Zone. Based onrnthis related literatures were reviewed. The research design employed was descriptivernsurvey under quantitative and qualitative methods. The main data collection topi was onernset of questionnaire for adults who utilize public libraries. In addition, interv? ant:i----/rndocument analysis were used to support data obtained through the questionpaire. Datarnwere gathered from adults, librarians, woreda educational experts and admitlistrators. Inrnorder to select sample areas and sample population purposive, availability andrnaccidental sampling techniques were employed. Non-parametric statistical tools meanrnand qualitative approaches were used in order to analyze and interpret data. The studyrnrevealed that the majority of users were male students whose information needs werernbasically for academic pUipose. The available resources in the libraries were inadequaternand in most cases not suitable in a particular situation. Additionally, the main problemsrnrelated to the utilization of public libraries were: absence of trained librarians, poorrnfacil ities of libraries, shortage of recent materials, lack of Internet and reprographicrnmaterial access, lack of willingness of educational experts to support public libraries.rnFurthermore, it was found out that there were problems related to scarcity of financialrnsupport and lack of willingness of adults to read different books that credited to poorrnutilization of public library services. As the result, the current state of the public librariesrnin study area isfarfrom what they should be. Improvement is needed in utilization and inrnincreasing the funding, providing recent materials and raising the awareness of publicrnlibrary services to the population. Hence, for the success of public library services, thernrespective government bodies, community and other concerned stakeholders shouldrnaccomplish their responsibilities in organized manner to promote adults' lifelongrnlearning in public libraries