SC/MLA Nashville 2002 Logo Southern Chapter/MLA - 2002 Annual Meeting - Nashville, Tennessee - October 17-20, 2002
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Poster Abstract

A Modified Focus-Group/Information Session to Assess Information Needs

Karen Dahlen, Visiting Outreach Associate, CDC Information Center, Atlanta, GA 30333.

Purpose: This poster session outlines an integrated approach to assessing and responding to information needs of scientists within a complex health organization. Collaboration between the CDC Information Center (IC) and the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID) has facilitated communication with a large user population, focused collection development, and improved training programs.

Setting: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is comprised of 11 Centers, the Office of the Director and administratively supports the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a sister agency of CDC. CDC is one of eight federal public health agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services. Offices of NCID (one Center), while based in Atlanta, are located in several US cities.

Brief Description: Library (IC) educators scheduled nine focus group sessions to sample from approximately 2500 fellows, microbiologists, epidemiologists, public health nurses, guest researchers, public health advisors, biologists, statisticians, and others. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire centered around eight “critical factors” identified by a 1992 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report. Selected questions were then used to probe participants on information-seeking skills and behavior. Approximately half the time of the session was spent conducting the focus group session, and the remainder of the time spent in introducing new resources and services. Follow-up training sessions were held to reinforce information resources introduced in the earlier sessions.

Evaluation Methods: Questionnaires are in the process of being analyzed. Data collected were used to improve electronic and print collections and facilitate delivery of information to the desktop.

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  Last modified:  Tuesday, 15 October 2002