Assessing user needs and resources

Hope I. Barton, University of Iowa
Jim Cheng, University of Iowa
Leo Clougherty, University of Iowa
John Forys, University of Iowa
Toby Lyles, University of Iowa
Dottie Persson, University of Iowa
Christine Walters, University of Iowa
Carlette Washington-Hoagland, University of Iowa

Abstract

In order to determine how libraries can best utilize their current resources and to plan for the future, it is important to know what services and resources users value and what their unmet needs are. In 1997, the University of Iowa Libraries began a three-phase assessment of the university community (undergraduate, graduate/professional students, and faculty/staff) to assess user satisfaction with current information services and resources and to help identify and prioritize service and resource needs. The second phase of the project, surveying professional and graduate students, was administered in winter 1999. This poster will share the methodology for developing this survey, an overview of the survey, and will also provide preliminary survey results.