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); (2) expert opinion, primarily the Delphi Technique; and (3) survey research, including what is generally called AT & R (action, training, and research). The discussion of the project phases lists the advantages and disadvantages of each of the three methods and shows the logic that led to the final recommendations. Appended are the final report of the ad hoc committee on long range planning, a list of task force members, a selected bibliography of needs assessment studies, the agenda of the first task force meeting, the interim report submitted to the ILA executive board, results of the ERIC literature search, the survey letter sent to state associations, and a brief discussion of the five major methods used to determine needs. (JD)