Guide to Library User Needs Assessment for Integrated Information Resource

Dora Biblarz; Stephen Bosch; Chris Sugnet

doi:10.5771/9781461658955

Summary

Applicable for all types of libraries. Needs assessment can be defined as the process of using one or more techniques to collect and analyze data on library users or potential users. The guide includes the methodology and techniques for carrying out needs assessment projects, ranging from short-term assessments to long-term research or comprehensive collection assessments. Various types of data, techniques, and methodology are described, as are associated pointers and pitfalls.

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Bibliographic data

Copyright year: 2001
ISBN-Print: 978-0-8108-4131-4
ISBN-Online: 978-1-4616-5895-5
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham
Language: English
Pages: 71
Product type: Book Titles

1. Table of Contents No access
2. Introduction No access
I. The reasons for undertaking needs assessment, defining the value of user assessments, and the theory concerning user needs assessment No access Pages 1 - 7
1. A. Establish the goals of the assessment No access
2. B. Assess available resources No access
3. C. Establish project scope No access
4. D. Define the user population No access
5. E. Review current awareness No access
6. F. Identify useful information No access
7. G. Establish a time frame No access
8. H. Complete the plan No access
1. 1. 1. Definitions No access
  2. 2. Pros and cons of direct user input for needs assessment No access
  3. 1. 1. (1) Focus groups No access
      2. (2) Qualitative input from surveys No access
      3. (3) Crucial incident surveys No access
      4. (4) Internal staff feedback No access
      5. (5) User interviews No access
    2. b) Representative data gathering No access
    3. 1. (1) Direct mailing No access
      2. (2) Online forms No access
      3. (3) Randomly timed surveys No access
2. B. Secondary information: Data that describes current conditions No access
3. 1. 1. a) Specific demographic data for academic libraries No access
    2. b) Specific demographic data for public libraries No access
  2. 2. Number and distribution of student enrollment credit hours No access
  3. 3. Course offerings No access
  4. 4. Electronic resources use statistics No access
  5. 1. a) Circulation patterns of monographic/serial collections No access
    2. b) Statistics derived from patron requests for holds/recalls on currently circulating materials No access
    3. c) In-house use statistics for both serials and monographs No access
    4. d) Photocopy activity No access
    5. e) Gate counts of the number of users entering a library building No access
    6. f) Use of media No access
  6. 1. a) Number of titles/volumes No access
    2. b) Median age of collections No access
    3. c) Condition of collection No access
    4. d) Distribution of multiple copies in the collection No access
  7. 7. Interlibrary loan (ILL) and document delivery statistics No access
  8. 8. Consortial agreements No access
  9. 9. Price indexes and other cost data No access
  10. 10. Analysis of organizations' external environment No access
  11. 11. Materials budget as secondary data No access
  12. 12. Citation analyses No access
  13. 13. Journal impact rankings and useful half-life ratings No access
  14. 14. Measure of actual use of journals No access
  15. 15. Other library activities No access
1. A. New degree program No access
2. B. Possible scenario regarding the reallocation of materials budget No access
3. C. Possible needs assessment for a school library/media center No access
4. D. Possible needs assessment for the addition of a new branch library No access
5. E. Possible needs assessment for consortial cooperation on serial subscriptions and document delivery No access
6. F. Possible preliminary needs assessment to assist development of statewide cooperative resource-sharing ventures in support of small public libraries No access
1. A. Avoid the easy-data-is-the-right-data syndrome No access
2. B. Do not confuse data types No access
3. C. Do not confuse measurement units No access
4. D. The numbers sometimes do not tell the whole story No access
5. E. Context is important No access
6. F. Recognize under-represented groups No access
7. G. Recognize service impacts of the unknown user No access
Glossary No access Pages 55 - 60
Bibliography No access Pages 61 - 66
World Wide Web Resources No access Pages 67 - 71