Developing A Needs Assessment Plan: A Practical Guide for Public Libraries

ABSTRACT

Public libraries understand the importance of conducting needs assessments, however there is a paucity in the literature about how to conduct a needs assessment. Those articles that mention their methodology only mention the use of surveys to obtain valuable information that will inform the development of library programs, services, and resources. The following article describes a six-step process for designing and developing a needs assessment and includes multiple qualitative and quantitative assessment strategies.

KEYWORDS:

• Needs assessment
• public libraries

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer A. Scott Brown

Jennifer A. Scott Brown is the Community Learning Manager for Suffolk Public Library and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Library and Information Studies at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA. She received her MSLIS from Syracuse University in 2010 and her PhD in Instructional Design and Technology from Old Dominion University in 2017. She was the Donna G. Cote Librarian of the Year for 2019.