Earlier this year, the NIH Library surveyed 501 fellows to learn more about their information needs and habits. The fellows are an important segment of the NIH community and we wanted to find out what we could do to make their time here easier. For those fellows who took part in the survey, thank you for your time and suggestions. Here are the 10 main findings about the fellows and their use of information.

1. Fellows are heavy users of the Library, but prefer online access to Library resources. Within the past year, 94.8% (476/501) used the NIH Library website, compared to 54.9% (276/501) who visited the physical Library.
   
   
2. Journal literature is the most important source of information for fellows, with 89.7% (450/501) using journals often/routinely. Of those who use journals often/routinely, 92% (453/491) prefer online journals. Seventy-seven percent (386/501) said that journals were the single most important source of information. For those who suggested that we purchase more back issues of journals, the Library recently extended online access to the first year of publication for nearly 400 journals (see Journal Backfiles Increase Seamless Access to Historical Content).
   
   
3. Databases are the second most important source of information, but not all fellows are aware of the "NIH Library-Full Text Plus!" button that takes you directly from the database record in PubMed®, Web of Science®, Scopus™, and other databases to the full-text article. To see this link in PubMed records you must connect via the PubMed @ NIH option available on the NIH Library website.
   
   
4. Fellows are independent information seekers, with 91.7% (460/501) usually obtaining information by seeking it themselves. Of the other methods noted, 41% (205/501) of respondents ask someone on their staff to find the information, 34% (170/501) contact the NIH Library, and 22% (112/501) rely on information in regularly scheduled updates such as alerts (see Research Updates).
   
   
5. Fellows are about equally likely to use the NIH Library website (46%) or an Internet search engine (43%) to seek information. This is in contrast to the results of a similar survey done in 2005 that found that the general NIH population is more apt to begin an information search at the Library’s website ( 50% or 227/500) as opposed to using an Internet search engine first (29% or 121/424)¹.
   
   
6. Those who have used NIH Library Resource Training services have either taken a class (49%) or had a tutorial (44%). However, over 75% (382/501) of the fellows have not used our instruction services to learn more about using EndNote®, Reference Manager®, PubMed or other resources. Many respondents asked that we do a better job of informing fellows about the services and resources we offer. One way to stay informed is through the NIH Library email news (see Library E-mail News Signup).
   
   
7. The most frequently noted information challenges (of those presented) are manuscript preparation and conducting comprehensive literature searches. Both are challenges that we can help with. Recently the NIH Library opened a Writing Center to assist with manuscript preparation. Librarians also provide instruction on how to conduct comprehensive searches or will do the searches for you (see Request a Literature Search).
   
   
8. Although fellows use our resources primarily through our website, the physical Library is still needed and used. When asked about the main benefit of having a place like the physical Library, 32.2% (161/501) listed the book collection and 31.7% (159/501) see the library as "a good place to go when I need a quiet place to read." When asked about the value of certain services over the next five years, on a scale of zero (not at all valuable) to 10 (extremely valuable), access to print books received a mean score of 7.4, quiet space received a score of 6.9, and comfortable seating and natural light received a score of 6.5.
   
   
9. Surprisingly, fellows do not seem to be using web-based social networking as much as we anticipated. Few fellows personally blog or author a web-diary for work (6.8% or 34/501), although more use social networking sites such as wikis or YouTube for work (22.2% or 111/501), and even more use social networking sites for personal sharing of information (36.1% or 181/501).
   
   
10. Respondents identified the main benefits of the information services offered through the NIH Library website as: saving time (33.5% or 168/501), helping find information that one otherwise might not find (25.9% or 130/501), and allowing one to be more efficient/effective when gathering information (24.6% or 123/501).

This information needs study was conducted in March and April 2008 by an independent consultant via telephone with a sample of 501 NIH fellows. Data were analyzed using Z-tests to calculate significance at the 95% level.

If you have questions or comments about the survey or the results, please direct them to Susan Whitmore, Chief, Information & Education Services Branch, NIH Library (301-496-1157 or susan_whitmore@nih.gov).

It is a pleasure to provide information services to the fellows and other staff members of NIH, and we are always glad to hear how we can be of help. Email nihlibrary@nih.gov or call Reference & Information Services at 301-496-1080 if you have comments, suggestions, or questions.

¹Grefsheim, S.F. and J.A. Rankin. Information needs and information seeking in a biomedical research setting: a study of scientists and science administrators. Journal of the Medical Library Association 95(4):426-434, October 2007.

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