Outreach: Information Needs Assessment of Unaffiliated North Dakota 95 Health Professionals and Biomedical 133s, Phase II

In Phase I of this project, University of North Dakota UND Health Sciences Library administered an information needs survey to unaffiliated North Dakota ND health care professionals in early 2017. The results provided useful information, and several individuals volunteered to provide additional information in follow-up interviews. UND librarians plan to further assess information needs of unaffiliated ND 95 health professionals in Phase II of this project by conducting telephone and/or in-person interviews and possibly focus groups of health profession leaders to obtain additional and more in-depth data. This data will guide selection of specific NLM and other information resources to be highlighted in outreach training and other activities to meet professionals' information needs. In addition, librarians plan to expand relationships with tribal college librarians and 133s begun in 2016-2017 and further explore provision of training, services, and/or possibly information resources, to these populations. This project will support the mission of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine NNLM, specifically 'to advance the progress of medicine and improve the public health by providing all U.S. health professionals with equal access to biomedical information.' It also directly addresses Aim 7 of the Greater Midwest Region GMR to 'develop and implement outreach and education programs that reach health professionals in the Region with a focus on underserved health communities and health professionals that work in these medically challenging communities so that easy access to NLM resources can be obtained regardless of location or economic status. . . .'