Florida Electronic Library Consumer Health Information: Needs Assessment Preliminary Results

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Florida Electronic Library Consumer Health
InformationNeeds Assessment Preliminary Results

• Research Conducted by the Information Use
• Management and Policy Institute,
• College of Information, Florida State University

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Needs Assessment Preliminary Results

• The Information Use Management and Policy
  Institute of Florida State University conducted a
  needs assessment for the Florida Electronic
  Library to assess public library patron needs
  related to access to consumer health information
  and services.
• This presentation includes initial findings from
  needs assessment surveys.

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Respondents Library Roles
202 respondents to the survey provided 281
responses to the question, what is your primary
function in the library. The majority of
respondents primarily provide reference services
however, respondents present a cross-section of
many areas of the library.
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Do your patrons ask you health information
questions?
87 of 156 respondents indicate patrons have
asked them health information questions.
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Patron Health Information Questions
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Specific Health Topics
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Specific Health Topics
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Do you anticipate an increase or decrease in
health questions?
65 (104 of 160) of respondents anticipate an
increase in health information related questions.
No respondents anticipate a decrease.
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Limitations in the Provision of Health
Information Services and Resources

• Of 148 respondents, 58 indicate their library
  provides a health information outreach program
  for their patrons.
• Sample of concerns expressed by respondents
  related to limitations on the provision of health
  information services and resources by their
  library
• Decrease in currently available health resources
  (databases) and staff to assist patrons due to
  budget cuts
• Access to a wider range of health information
  resources
• Difficulty in locating information related to
  specific health issues
• Lack of training opportunities on health related
  topics
• Quality of health resources (databases)

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Interest in Training Opportunities

• Respondents are very interested (70 or over for
  these topics) in receiving training related to
  access of general health resources, drug
  information resources, E-Government materials,
  and state and local resources
• 88 of respondents are interested in special
  topic training sessions to address patron
  health-related questions.
• 64 of respondents were interested in receiving a
  Consumer Health Information training certificate.

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Conclusions

• Public librarians are engaged in delivering a
  broad range of Consumer Health Information
  services to Florida Residents
• Increased public library services and resources
  related to Consumer Health Information are likely
  to be needed to meet ongoing and future demands
• A range of training needs and topics should be
  developed for public librarians and
• Public libraries will need to find new sources of
  revenue to continue to support the delivery of
  Consumer Health Information services.

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FCHIN Next Steps

• Training Initiative for Public Librarians
• Develop a Consumer Health Information page within
  the FEL
• Develop a promotion plan that can be used by
  public libraries to do outreach
• Work with Gale Publishing to beta test the next
  version of Health and Wellness Resource Center

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Contact

• Mark Flynn
• mflynn_at_dos.state.fl.us
• [phone]

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Special Thanks!

• Information Institute
• Florida State University, College of Information
• http//ii.fsu.edu