Guerrieri Academic Commons arial view from front entrance.

SU Libraries Mission, Values, and Plans

Libraries are at the heart of the academic enterprise, helping students, faculty, and staff find and use information and create and share knowledge.

Mission

The Salisbury University Libraries cultivate and sustain a superior learning community by providing user-centered services and information resources in an engaging environment dedicated to the free exchange of ideas and excellence in learning, teaching, scholarship, creativity, and service.

Values

We are in the midst of a time of great change for libraries everywhere.  Electronic collections are supplementing and often supplanting physical collections; users expect immediate, unmediated access to information; and librarians are finding new roles as partners in the creation and dissemination of knowledge.  Even in the midst of this change, however, the core values that guide our work endure:

  • Intellectual Inquiry

    This is the fundamental purpose and activity of a university. University libraries exist to support such inquiry.

  • Equity

    We strive to provide all our users with fair and impartial access to our collections and services. See our Diversity & Inclusion page for more information about our equity initiatives.

  • Service

    The Libraries would not exist without our users. Serving our users in appropriate ways is one of our core purposes.

  • Respect

    We believe every person deserves to be treated with respect.

  • Empowerment

    We provide the training, collections, and services needed to empower our users to meet their information needs independently, equipping them for a lifetime of success. 

  • Creative Adaptability

    Information and people’s information needs change continuously.  We must be creative and adaptable to continuously provide the best service possible.

  • Collaboration

    Believing we are stronger and can accomplish more together than apart, we collaborate with others.

Plans