Introduction
This report presents findings from primary research conducted by the
Marketing Club at Montana State University (IMSU) in response 1o 0 request
made by the Dean of MSU Libraries [MSUL) Tamara Miller, to assist with
‘gathering necessary information to make future resource allocation
decisions
Background and Problem Definition
MSU Libraries cater to approximately 13,000 students and neaaty 1100 ful
-ond part-time faculty members. MSUL's mission is to faciftate student and
faculty success by providing access to information and knowledge.
Dye fo the dynamic information technology environment that MSUL finds
itsettin, itis important to MSUL's administration to make informed decisions
‘about how faculty and students aocess and use information ond
knowledge. To make such dacisions itis ertical that MSUL's administration
§s aware of the information acquisition and usage pattems of bath cunent
‘ond future constituents. Based on the premise of staying abreast of the:
‘constituents’ needs, the following problem was identified
MSUL's administration needs a better understanding of how the
‘Constituents of MSUL ocquite and use information. An improved
understanding of constituents’ needs will assist MSUL’s administration with
making welLinformed resource allocation decisions os well as with
'pursving pertinent technologies that will further MSUL's mission.
Research Objectives
Following the important step of defining the problem, MSUL's
‘odministrafion and Markeling Club researchers met on January 30", Feb
5h and Feb 17%, 2007 to arive ata common understanding of the
‘objectives of the primary research. Based an these meetings, the following
three research objectives were mutually agreed upon:
1. To find out how MSUL’S Constituents curently meat their information
‘ond knowledge needs.
2. To measure MSUL’s constituents’ awareness and usage of
innovative technologies that assist in the acquisition of information
and knowledge.
3, To measure future students" information acquisition and usage
behavior.