Authors
Faculty member, Faculty of Education, Science and Psychology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz
Abstract
This article is written on the basis of the results of a study that was conducted to investigate the opinions of the academic staff of the Shahid Chamran University on the degree of conformity of their information needs with the existing libraiy resources and services in this university. The required data were collected by means of a questionnaire that was devised for the purpose of this research. The concept of “information need” and its importance is discussed, as well as the barriers to identification of users’ information needs in a library. Analysis of the data revealed that in view of the academic staff of the SCU, there is little agreement between their information needs and the available resources in libraries. The survey results also revealed that variables such as sex, teaching experience, and area of specialty can affect the staff views on the degree of conformity of their information needs with available library resources. It is suggested that: 1) new services such as SDI and Current Awareness Services should be established; 2) studies be conducted to determine the level of agreement of available library resources and services with the current standards, and 3) need analysis surveys should be performed regularly among academic staff to update library’s knowledge of their information needs.
Keywords
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