Studying the Information Needs of Students and Professors of Birjand University and the Efficacy of the University’s Information Resources

Background: Awareness about the actual information needs is a necessity in correct decision making for developing or improvement of information centers. This study aimed on investigating the information needs of students and university professors of Birjand University of Medical sciences. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study conducted in 2009, 422 students were selected based on systematic random sampling and the university professors were chosen by studied by the census method using a designed questionnaire. Data analysis was done using the Chi-square test and SPSS software. Results: Among the 422 cases, 82.7% were students and 17.3 professors. 39.8% of the latter group considered the most important reason for searching the scientific resources, educational and research purposes. 47.6% of the students also mentioned educational purposes. 81.8% of the professors used English language resources while 91.5% of the students used Persian language literature. 53% considered the library resources useful in overcoming their needs. Among the official resources books with 86.4% and from unofficial resources taking part in scientific congresses with 53.4% were the most needed resources among the studied professors showing a significant difference between them and the students. Conclusions: The university professors and students required information databases, journals and books more than other resources. Students used the English resources to a much lower degree for their educational and research activities while the resources available in the university library fulfilled their needs mild to moderately.