An Assessment of the Relationships Between Resource Development Decisions, Library Collection Usage, and User Perceptions

Abstract

Today’s managers of library journal collection budgets experience pressures from shrinking resource allocations and rising costs. Consequently, they seek ways to assess the value of their collections in relation to user needs. This study at a University seeks to understand what resources users (both faculty and graduate student) are citing in their research, the breadth of the information cited that is provided by the library, how the library’s proactive and reactive efforts might influence user satisfaction with the information resources provided, and how user perceptions align and differ from information realities. It takes a unique approach by comparing LibQual survey results and faculty and graduate student citation behaviors.