Designed to obtain information useful in developing state information dissemination systems, this study sought to determine the information gathering practices and needs of vocational educators and administrators. Insight into these practices and needs was accomplished through a questionnaire survey completed by 3,229 vocational-technical educators in seven states, covering items such as: (1) institutions used as sources of information in the past 12 months, (2) usefulness of sources of information, (3) usefulness of information products, (4) most important characteristics of information, (5) time spent each month gathering information to solve problems, (6) familiarity with ERIC, and (7) ERIC materials used. One of the several conclusions and recommendations is that vocational-technical educators at the local level--teachers, counselors, local directors, administrators--are in need of better access to information products and services, especially preceding the beginning of school terms. Means for improving access are recommended. Also, the single hypothesis that vocational-technical educators who were themselves enrolled in courses would show distinctly different patterns of information gathering behavior was rejected. (JS)