ABSTRACT
An information needs assessment is a component of the information audit process described in greater detail in a separate chapter of this Handbook. A much more detailed picture of organisational investments in a range of information resources and user behaviours will emerge from a comprehensive information audit. However, the complexity of some organisations may make full audits complex and time consuming. And, as the global business environment becomes more competitive and as pressures increase to speed up product development and reduce time to market, there simply may not be time, resources, or management support to pursue a fullblown information audit. This chapter focuses on under-standing information needs of users. The latter part of the chapter examines how to evaluate new information resources that are being considered as a result of what is learned from the information needs assessment.
