Five methods for determining the needs and aspirations of the total library community (library personnel, library affiliates, and general population) in Illinois are presented in this report, and the use of three of them for a 3-phase study is outlined: (1) survey of the literature (documentary research and secondary data collection and analysis);…

Once a librarian has made the decision to conduct a study of the economic community, several interrelated questions must be addressed: What is meant by the term "economic community" and what is known about it? What will be the objectives of the survey? Which businesses, industries, and services should be included? Who will conduct the…

Reports the results of a telephone survey designed to assess community awareness and perceptions of the local community college and to determine community needs. Also discusses survey methods and data analysis. (DC)

The decision to conduct a "Needs Assessment of the Haitian-American Community in Hillsborough County" was made to provide a quasi-scientific or a research foundation to our future intervention in this community. More specifically, the needs assessment aimed to: (1) Identify the priorities in the needs of the Haitian-American community,…

This paper describes the systematic approach utilized in the development of a survey instrument for use in a community assessment survey. The purpose behind the development of the survey instrument was to enable the Office of Research and Development at Central Florida Community College (CFCC) to determine by means of telephone interviews the…

Summarizes the methodology and findings of a telephone survey conducted by Central Florida Community College to identify the educational needs of its service district. Discusses the role of an advisory committee in planning the study, the pilot testing of the questionnaire, interviewer training, publicity, funding, and costs. (JP)

To assess the needs of residents in proximity to the Downtown Center of Bakersfield College (California), a stratified random sampling of addresses was chosen and adults at each address were interviewed. A total of 422 interviews were conducted by sociology students from the college and by paid student interviewers. Thirty-five percent of the…

The rationale for conducting a community survey to obtain information on a specific problem or issue for local school board policy formation is illustrated in this case study. A survey mailed to 10 percent of all district households in a small midwestern city yielded a 31 percent response rate. Survey analysis was utilized by the school board to…

In recent years, community colleges have made concerted efforts to reach out and meet the needs of the communities they serve. Relevance in community college education depends upon the successful identification of individual and social needs and the implementation of responsive programs. As a basis for conducting a community needs assessment, the…

This report describes a preliminary methodology by which distressed communities may be identified using school districts as the basic unit for the presentation of data. Distress consists of a concentration of the following types of need: (1) economic; (2) social; and (3) educational. Distress was measured by an index that determined a district's…

This literature review examines the utilization of community needs assessment data in program planning and evaluation efforts at community colleges. The review first defines and looks at the purposes of community needs assessments, noting that while such studies are purported to facilitate the planning and evaluation of credit and non-credit…

Designed to help local government officials, agency personnel, and members of citizen groups involved in the planning process for a rapidly growing community, this introduction to community needs assessment provides background information on the reasons for conducting community needs assessment, guidelines for determining which techniques are most…

This research report is a result of a desire to raise the capability of developing arts organizations, to stimulate artistic activity and awareness and to broaden public access to the arts and artists in rural areas defined as underserved communities. This document presents findings from the study which used Focus Groups as a framework for…

Ways of increasing awareness of and access to literacy programs for Native people in Toronto, Ontario, were examined. Data were collected through the following activities: a literature review; meetings with stakeholders and the public; surveys of learners, Native literacy workers, executive directors, and steering committee members; and focus…