Abstract
The research sought to provide evidence to support the development of a long-term strategy for the Via Christi Regional Medical Center Libraries. An information needs assessment was conducted in a large medical center serving approximately 5,900 physicians, clinicians, and nonclinical staff in 4 sites in 1 Midwestern city. Quantitative and qualitative data from 1,295 self-reporting surveys, 75 telephone interviews, and 2 focus groups were collected and analyzed to address 2 questions: how could the libraries best serve their patrons, given realistic limitations on time, resources, and personnel, and how could the libraries best help their institution improve patient care and outcomes? Clinicians emphasized the need for "just in time" information accessible at the point of care. Library nonusers emphasized the need to market library services and resources. Both clinical and nonclinical respondents emphasized the need for information services customized to their professional information needs, preferences, and patterns of use. Specific information needs in the organization were identified. The results of this three-part, user-centered information needs assessment were used to develop an evidence-based strategic plan. The findings confirmed the importance of promoting library services in the organization and suggested expanded, collaborative roles for hospital librarians.
Highlights
Standard 6 of the Medical Library Association’s ‘‘Standards for Hospital Libraries 2002 with 2004 Revisions’’ [1] calls for librarians to perform ongoing assessment of the organization’s knowledge-based information needs and to base planning on the results of assessment findings
The ‘‘right’’ information was accurate and applicable to the need at hand, while the ‘‘right’’ source was one that was both reliable and readily accessible. They reported that they used the Internet and online resources because they were readily available, respondents acknowledged that their search strategies were not always effective and that ‘‘Googling’’ health information does not necessarily result in quality-filtered information
Findings from the Via Christi Libraries’ needs assessment provided the evidence necessary to develop a user-centered strategic plan. In her 1994 Janet Doe Lecture, Matheson [19] called attention to a statement by O’Donnell [20], who asserted that in the twenty-first century, ‘‘the library will cease to be a warehouse and become instead a software system.’’ Matheson expanded on the idea of library as software system, contending that just one institutional system would not be enough
Summary
Standard 6 of the Medical Library Association’s ‘‘Standards for Hospital Libraries 2002 with 2004 Revisions’’ [1] calls for librarians to perform ongoing assessment of the organization’s knowledge-based information needs and to base planning on the results of assessment findings. Designed assessments of library performance assist library decision makers in evaluating the quality of provided services, as well as in allocating scarce resources most effectively [2]. This paper describes the process of planning, implementing, and analyzing a formal needs assessment process to inform one library’s strategic planning initiative. Via Christi Regional Medical Center (VCRMC) in Wichita, Kansas, was created through the merger of two large acute care hospitals in 1995 and currently comprises four sites providing acute care, mental health services, and rehabilitation services. In cooperation with the Kansas University School of Medicine, the medical center operates the second largest
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