Information needs of university programs in health administration: report of survey response

Program directors and librarians providing information support for academic programs in health administration share similar perceptions of the information needs of their students and faculty. Where they differ in identification of helpful products or key discussion topics, the difference appears to be a function of their role. For example, it is probable that librarians do not consider preparation of user-specific bibliographies from on-line databases as an important AHA Resource Center product because they prepare these themselves at the local level. Conversely, it is probable that program directors do not see an overview of current issues in health administration as a high-priority topic for a meeting because they have access to more immediate resources for that kind of information. Not unexpectedly, program directors and librarians alike see the AHA Resource Center's role as a secondary one and look within their own institution first for information support. A report of survey results and information about the AHA Resource Center were shared with survey respondents and nonresponding program directors in January 1985. The AHA Resource Center is utilizing responses to this survey to plan services and programs that will be helpful to faculty and students in university programs in health administration and to library staff serving these programs.