Guide to Library User Needs Assessment for Integrated Information Resource Management and Collection Development

by Biblarz, Dora; Bosch, Stephen; Sugnet, Chris

• ISBN13: 9780810841314
• ISBN10: 0810841312
• eBook ISBN(s): 9798216207559
• Additional ISBN(s): 9781461658955
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-06-06
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

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.

Table of Contents

Introduction	vii
The reasons for undertaking needs assessment, defining the value of user assessments, and the theory concerning user needs assessment	1	(7)
The process for developing a needs assessment project	8	(3)
Establish the goals of the assessment	8	(1)
Assess available resources	8	(1)
Establish project scope	9	(1)
Define the user population	9	(1)
Review current awareness	10	(1)
Identify useful information	10	(1)
Establish a time frame	10	(1)
Complete the plan	11	(1)
What can be measured and how to measure it: Types of assessment data that may be useful	11	(44)
Direct user input (e.g., user surveys)	11	(11)
Definitions	12	(1)
Pros and cons of direct user input for needs assessment	12	(1)
Methodology for direct user input	13	(1)
Exploratory data collection	13	(1)
Focus groups	13	(1)
Qualitative input from surveys	14	(1)
Crucial incident surveys	15	(1)
Internal staff feedback	15	(1)
User interviews	15	(1)
Representative data gathering	16	(1)
Techniques for random surveys	17	(1)
Direct mailing	17	(2)
Online forms	19	(2)
Randomly timed surveys	21	(1)
Secondary information: Data that describes current conditions	22	(3)
Specific types of secondary data	25	(18)
Demographic data	25	(1)
Specific demographic data for academic libraries	25	(1)
Specific demographic data for public libraries	26	(1)
Number and distribution of student enrollment credit hours	26	(1)
Course offerings	27	(1)
Electronic resources use statistics	27	(2)
Circulation statistics	29	(1)
Circulation patterns of monographic/serial collections	30	(1)
Statistics derived from patron requests for holds/recalls on currently circulating materials	31	(1)
In-house use statistics for both serials and monographs	31	(1)
Photocopy activity	31	(1)
Gate counts of the number of users entering a library building	31	(1)
Use of media	32	(1)
Collection statistics and evaluation of collections	32	(1)
Number of titles/volumes	33	(1)
Median age of collections	34	(1)
Condition of collection	34	(1)
Distribution of multiple copies in the collection	35	(1)
Interlibrary loan (ILL) and document delivery statistics	35	(1)
Consortial agreements	36	(1)
Price indexes and other cost data	37	(1)
Analysis of organizations' external environment	38	(1)
Materials budget as secondary data	39	(1)
Citation analyses	39	(2)
Journal impact rankings and useful half-life ratings	41	(1)
Measure of actual use of journals	41	(1)
Other library activities	42	(1)
Scenarios for user needs assessments	43	(7)
New degree program	43	(1)
Possible scenario regarding the reallocation of materials budget	44	(1)
Possible needs assessment for a school library/media center	45	(1)
Possible needs assessment for the addition of a new branch library	46	(1)
Possible needs assessment for consortial cooperation on serial subscriptions and document delivery	47	(2)
Possible preliminary needs assessment to assist development of statewide cooperative resource-sharing ventures in support of small public libraries	49	(1)
Pointers and pitfalls	50	(5)
Avoid the easy-data-is-the-right-data syndrome	50	(1)
Do not confuse data types	51	(1)
Do not confuse measurement units	51	(1)
The numbers sometimes do not tell the whole story	51	(1)
Context is important	52	(1)
Recognize under-represented groups	52	(1)
Recognize service impacts of the unknown user	52	(3)
Glossary	55	(6)
Bibliography	61	(6)
World Wide Web Resources	67