Library Mission:
The Brown University Library advances instruction, learning, and research in the University by providing critical expertise, curated collections, and responsive technology and spaces in an environment of creativity and inclusivity. Partnering with students, faculty, staff, and members of the global scholarly community, we foster and guide the creation, acquisition, preservation, and dissemination of knowledge at Brown and beyond in a spirit of free and open inquiry.
Library Core Values:
In seeking to achieve greater excellence in order to advance the University’s strategic goals, the Brown University Library staff is guided by the following values:
- We affirm and support Brown University’s mission to serve the community, the nation, and the world by discovering, communicating, and preserving knowledge and understanding in a spirit of free inquiry.
- We value a diverse community that includes a full range of perspectives and cultures.
- We uphold the principles of free speech, open inquiry, and open access.
- We aim to provide the highest quality service to our academic community.
- We work together as a team for the benefit of the University.
- We value innovation and flexibility in finding creative ways to support and engage with the Brown community.
- We maintain spaces in which academic activities and community life may be freely pursued in a climate of mutual respect, tolerance, and understanding.
Library Core Strategic Objectives:
The Library’s strategy for 2019-2024 is built around four core objectives:
- Academic Integration: The Library will strengthen the alignment of collections, resources, staff expertise, and programs with Brown’s strategic commitments under Building on Distinction to excellence in research and education. The Library’s work will be essential to the success of the University’s strategic academic goals.
- Knowledge Generation: The Library will grow as a center for research and learning in which Brown faculty and students collaborate with specialist library staff to advance knowledge. Both on-site and virtual access to the Library’s collections will make Brown a destination research site for scholars.
- Innovative Practice: The Library will be known as an innovative leader in its field, developing creative solutions for producing and delivering knowledge to the world. Within the University, the Library will provide leadership, expertise, and partnership on issues relating to the rapidly evolving information environment.
- Organizational Investment: The Library will become a more effective organization through ensuring that all staff have the training, tools, and support they require to make outstanding contributions to Brown’s academic community. As a learning organization, the Library will strengthen departmental structures, create cross-departmental teams, and update technological capabilities to meet the operational requirements for achieving our strategic goals.
All four of these objectives are responsive to and strengthened by Library-wide goals that act upon the University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion as reflected in the backgrounds and experiences of our people as well as our approaches to the materials, methods, and accessibility of scholarship. Similarly, we want to find new ways for scholarship and practice at the Library to have a positive impact on the wider community in Providence and beyond. As reflected in our objectives, the Library should not only be responding to the legacies of historic inequity and injustice, but also taking action through its work and expertise to overcome them.
PDF copy of strategic plan (draft 7/29/2019)
PDF copy of strategic plan graphic