Demand and supply of information: two studies

A brief description of the main activities of the Information Service at the Institute of Personnel Management (IPM) is followed by a detailed explanation of two successful experimental studies of the service which were recently carried out. Study One measures the level of demand from enquirers by analysing all subject enquiries received over a three month period. The enquiries were classified into forty‐six main subjects. Study Two investigates the adequacy of both published and unpublished material held by the IPM Library for the same forty‐six subjects. The purpose, method and conclusion is given for each study, and it is shown how the findings of the two studies were linked. Short extracts from the studies are included. A summary stresses that any information service must maintain a constant awareness of the changing needs of its users, so that their needs are not only met but anticipated. Studies such as these will provide an effective basis for achieving this aim.