Mission and Goals

The University Libraries is a learning and teaching environment fostering the pursuit of knowledge, intellectual and ethical integrity, excellence in teaching and learning, and respect for inquiry and diverse points of view. In supporting the University’s mission as a student-centered research institution, the Libraries:

• Collects, organizes, preserves, and provides access to information in multiple physical and electronic formats to meet present and future needs of the University relating to teaching, research, learning, and public service
• Encourages life-long learning by educating users to become self-reliant and discerning in the selection and use of information resources
• Actively participates in and exerts leadership at local, state, national, and international levels to support educational attainment and research.

Goals

• Select and maintain a collection of materials in all formats using collection development policies based on the University’s academic programs and student needs, the highest standards of bibliographic control, and continuing assessment of the needs of the University community.
• Assist users in locating information by providing informed and accurate searching assistance and through helpful and appropriate organization and annotation of information resources.
• Provide adequate and environmentally appropriate spaces, facilities, and services to ensure the conservation, usefulness, and accessibility of collections for current and future generations of students and faculty.
• Provide spaces and facilities incorporating traditional as well as innovative technologies and techniques that enable and encourage critical inquiry, personal study and reflection, and collaborative learning.
• Develop an information literacy program in partnership with academic faculty and the broader University community to educate students to be critical thinkers and to fulfill their lifelong information and educational needs.
• Develop and provide library instruction to teach the concepts and skills essential for information literate students in the place, format, and at the time students will benefit from it most, utilizing existing and future technologies in order to make instruction relevant, valuable, and convenient.
• Provide and encourage opportunities for development, training, and education to maintain a faculty and staff of dedicated and knowledgeable professionals who are able to assist users with appropriate resources, technologies, and subject expertise, and who find recognition and fulfillment in their work.
• Support and actively participate in resource sharing initiatives to extend the use of the collections beyond the University and to provide access to resources worldwide that would otherwise not be available to faculty, staff, and students.
• Engage in partnerships with vendors, library and educational groups, networks, consortia, and other University departments to make efficient and effective use of human and fiscal resources.
• Encourage faculty and staff to contribute to the life of the University, the profession of library and information sciences, and the wider educational and cultural communities through active participation in professional associations and other relevant organizations, programs, and activities.

Rev. 02/03