The Coy C.

Carpenter
Medical Library
At

Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Needs Assessment

Kris Brown, Rebecca Peterson, Stephanie Jobe, Amanda Goodman

• Located in Winston-Salem, NC
• Supports the Wake Forest University Medical
Center
• Part of the Baptist Medical Center
• Has a very broad user base
 Mission

…to provide health information in support of the goals of

the core mission set forth by the Medical Center.
 Philosophy
We work to cultivate an innovative, forward-
thinking approach in getting information in all it
forms to our patrons.

The latest technology combined with traditional

attentive service helps us to distribute
information as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

We strive to meet all the needs of our patrons

and have as our motivating philosophy that of
the late Dr. Carpenter,

“There is no alternative but success.”

Patrons
• 460 Medical Students

• 110 Physicians Assistant Students

• 600 “House Staff”, i.e. Residents

• 750 “House Staff Faculty”

• Affiliated Programs:
WSSU, FTCC, Allied Health Students, Wake Forest
University graduate and undergraduate
students and faculty, community members
 Services
• References Services
• Six meeting/study rooms
• Two interactive classrooms
• School of Medicine bookstore
• 30 Computer terminals
• Wireless access
• Quiet study area
 Online Services
Databases
E-journals
Electronic textbooks
Virtual reference desk
Online archives
The “Ideal Library”
• Increase Online Access
– With a growing number of users accessing the
library primarily online, provide more services

• Be a part of the World Health Community

– Cultivate researchers and grant-writing for
medical contribution on a global level

• Make the physical space more inviting

– Encourage patrons to utilize every aspect of
the library, not just the website
 Research Method

• Surveygizmo was the online delivery system of the questions.

--- Open ended questions
--- Statement questions that asked the respondent to choose
how strongly they agreed or disagreed with the statement.
 Respondents
• 28 out of 34 library staff responded.
--- Their survey was created using the 12 questions
as the framework.
--- 27 questions

• 124 user responses out of a potential pool of

11,000 people.
--- 16 questions
 Staff Results
Positive aspects of working at the library:
• Know what is expected of them in their position
• Have the skills and training to do their job
• Feel supported
• Great benefits

Negative aspects of their jobs:

• Not being intellectually challenged
• Do not have all the materials they need
• A lack of communication between staff and bosses
 User Results
What’s important to them:
• Databases are helpful
• Study areas
• Access to books, journals, and audiovisuals
• Scanners, printers and wireless access

Tech that is of little interest:

• Laptops, desktops, netbooks
• Portable projectors
• E-book readers
 Weaknesses
Weaknesses
• Our contacts going on vacation without informing us.
•    The Dean did not post the surveys in a timely fashion.

•    The library directors wanted the questions to be presented

in a biased manner.

•    Unclear on the number of users.

•    The lack of user response.

 Strengths
• The library had good online communication.

• Our needs assessment will be put into

practice.

• 28 out of 34 staff members responded.

• The library directors were committed to

our success in our project.
Our Group Actions
Any questions?