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Mission, Vision, Goals

Seton Hall University Libraries, Strategic Plan 2020 LFA Approved 1/6/2020

Mission, Vision, and Values Statements

Mission 

The University Libraries advance distinction in the Seton Hall community’s teaching, learning, and research through its provision of user-focused services, programs, and robust collections. In the Catholic intellectual tradition, we encourage the exchange of divergent points of view as we are the intellectual, ethical, cultural, and historical heart of the University.

Vision 

The Libraries are central to the University’s intellectual life where students and faculty needs are the top priority. We lead through the provision of innovative services, programs, and resources within the Seton Hall community and beyond.

Values, ranked

We value…(mapped to University Guiding Principles):

  • The humanity, knowledge, and expertise of people in the Library, the University, and the community. (GP1, GP3, GP5)
  • Teaching and Learning in physical and virtual spaces (GP2, GP4)
  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (people) (GP1, GP2, GP5)
  • Openness and Access (GP2, GP3, GP4, GP5)
  • Innovation & Collaboration (GP4)
  • Intellectual Freedom (GP4, GP5)
  • Transparency/Accountability (ethics) (GP1, GP2)

Strategic Plan Goals

 

Goal 1. The University Libraries are viewed as an essential, respected, and valued University Asset; librarians and library staff are trusted colleagues and partners in research and teaching.

Goal 2. The University Libraries are core to the academic, ethical, and cultural growth of the University community and a strong comprehensive academic presence in its research, teaching, and learning activities.

Goal 3. The University Libraries foster an environment that is supportive, cohesive, compassionate, and communicative for future leaders and good citizens.

Goal 4. The University Libraries will secure the resources, labor/staffing/personnel, funding and infrastructure to meet our goals and objectives now and in the future, fostering higher levels of scholarship and providing tools that are transparent and easily adaptable to users’ needs.

Goal 5. The University Libraries will plan, develop, expand, and budget physical and virtual library spaces to support student success and engagement at all levels for present and future endeavors.

Goal 6. The University Libraries provide an inclusive learning environment that fosters collaboration among people of diverse backgrounds in support of and to inspire the lifelong learning of our community.

Goal 7. The University Libraries develop strategic alliances and cooperate with other organizations for the advancement of University goals and objectives.

Goal 8. The University Libraries ensure services and tools are both efficient and effective through iterative review and development.

Goal 9. The University Libraries develop capacities for future needs and more dispersed and collaborative responsibility.

 

Strategic Plan Objectives, January 2022

  1. Create a coordinated outreach plan across the University and within the surrounding communities. (G1 G2 G3 G7 G9) 
  1. Create branding to improve library recognition across modalities, to promote the library as a service that advances the Mission/Goals of the University on all campuses. (G1 G2 G3 G7 G9) 
  • Continue to deploy a cohesive marketing and outreach strategy, including signage, email marketing to students and faculty, blog posts, and UL/IHS “highlight” reports. Create brochures for undergraduate, graduate, alumni, and faculty populations.
  1. Develop and deliver programs and activities such as the IHS book club and Speaker Series; support interdepartmental symposia and hosting interlibrary events. (G1 G2 G3 G4 G6 G7) 
  • Continue to deliver events such as the IHS book club, Research Seminar Series, and the My Professional Journal Speaker Series. 
  1. Leverage social media platforms to expose University Libraries, Special Collections, and Gallery activities. Create a cohesive social media communication plan/strategy across all campuses. (G1 G2 G3 G5 G6 G8) 
  • Expand the IHS library social media presence on all platforms 
  1. Promote Seton Hall scholarship via our open access Institutional Repository and other settings. (G1 G2 G4 G6 G7 G8 G9) 
  1. Increase awareness of the scholarly potential of our collections; highlight Data Services, LibGuides, faculty publications, programs, and exhibitions both within and beyond Seton Hall. (G1 – G9)  
  1. Enhance student and faculty success by developing Data Services support for the research needs of the University and improve its research output. (G1 G2 G4 G5 G8 G9). Create a strategy for data services collaborations at IHS.  
  1. Provide essential services and support for research data services, data infrastructure, and scholarly communications. (G2 G4 G5 G6 G7 G8 G9) 
  1. Expand, interpret, and disseminate our digital presence (G1 G2 G4 G5 G8). 
  1. Build our IT infrastructure adequate to storage, data services, data management needs of the community that the University Libraries serve. 
  1. Develop and deploy tools that are user friendly, meet the needs of researchers, and can integrate with existing systems; continue to explore alternative technology platforms and tools whose integration may improve our services to our end users. (G1 – G9) 
  • Focus Libguides/toolkits to be user friendly, accessible, and relevant to programs and assignments. 
  1. Improve intellectual control, aka full discoverability, of our unique collections, to reflect their richness and complexity. (G1 G2 G4 G5 G8)
  1. Implement LMS tools with University Libraries’ input and more 

transparency. (G7)

  1. Enhance cataloging efforts to make collections available to the public and to use to populate digital presence; move Collection Services towards Metadata Services. (G8)  
  1. Prioritize instruction: 
  1. Teach how and why we do research via reflective practice and active learning; cultivate ethics of research and teach how to avoid plagiarism. (G2; G1 – G9) 
  • Continue to provide these teaching moments within the PPPC curriculum of the School of Medicine (SOM). Teach Zotero and citation management in the College of Nursing (CON) and the School of Health and Medical Sciences (SHMS).  
  • Scale programs (like Academies) across other schools.

b. Increase research and instructional support in the online learning environment. Seamlessly engage the online teaching environment as an equal partner. (G4; G1 – G9)  

  • Deploy instructional modules where appropriate in the online environment  
  1. Continue to Refocus the Liaison program towards a holistic, project-based approach; augment with embedded librarianship where possible. (G1 G2 G4 G5 G6 G9) (embedded principally @IHS) 
  • Continue the close collaboration and integration of library services within all the curricular areas in Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 of the SOM (HSS, CS, HD. Explore potential areas for higher level integration in SHMS (Physical Therapy).  
  • Adjust services and reprioritize instruction based on gain through a non-evaluative, formative process of reciprocal classroom visits and reflection.
  1. Provide learning opportunities that address the spectrum of needs to ensure successful deployment of library resources for the curriculum. (G1 G2 G3 G5 G6 G8) 
  • Continue to evolve our understanding of needs of students, partner with DSS when appropriate, and work with the Walsh library to provide technology services. 
  1. Integrate primary resources from our Special Collections and the Gallery into the curricula with collaborative programs across disciplines. (G2; G1 – G9)  
  1. Pursue both funding opportunities and enhanced allocations. (G9) 
  1. Establish a presence with donors that surpasses previous gift levels and strengthens relationships with University Advancement. (G1 G4 G7 G9) 
  1. Seek outside funding for special projects and grants; advocate at a higher level to pursue money from grants; support transparency and restructuring of grant allocations. (G7) 
  1. Develop an adequate and sustainable allocated budget as ethical stewards of resources; assess, allocate, and advocate for resources for the faculty and students at SHU, chart/report on growth needed to remediate gaps and/or align the Libraries with peer institutions. (G1 G4 G5 G7) 
  1. Develop larger professional development resources for the entire University 

Libraries’ staff in line with service and operational needs. (G1 G4 G6 G8 G9) 

  1. Model ethical collection handling practices and thoughtful cultivation stewardship of materials; improve our handling of discarded deaccessioned items. (G1 G3 G4 G6) 
  1. Develop programming for diversity and inclusion. (G1 G3 G4 G6 G9) 
  1. Continue to partner with initiatives at the University that support diversity and inclusion. (G1 G3 G4 G6 G9) 
  • Continue to strengthen the partnership with Office of Diversity and Equity. Publish about the high school pipeline program to get high school students into the sciences. 
  1. Hire with an ethos supporting diversity and equity. (G3 G4 G6) 
  1. Meet physical and virtual Accessibility standards. (G3 G4 G6 G7 G8) 
  • Continue to evolve our understanding of needs of students, partner with DSS when appropriate, and work with Walsh Library to provide technology services. 
  1. Expand digitization and archival collection building efforts across other cultural and educational areas within our Mission. Make content more responsive and inclusive via teaching, instruction, collection development, and digitization. (G1 G2 G3 G4 G6 G8)  
  1. Promote social justice and open access collections. (G1 G3 G6 G7 G9) 
  1. Ensure use and distribution of technology resources that support both DEIA efforts and bridging the digital divide. (G1 G2 G3 G6)    
  1. Strengthen our relationships with key departments and organizations that support library curricular, research initiatives, funding, and outreach. (G2 G4 G7 G9) 
  1. Identify capable and strategic partners on and off campus in pursuit of the above. (G4 G5 G7 G9) 
  • Explore profit making partnerships with local corporations on the ON3 campus. Solidify relationship with HMH and create a plan that meets the GME needs of the SOM (3-5 years) 
  1. Enhance Consortial relationships with strong partners, for example PALCI, WALDO, Lyrasis, and others, by providing leadership on key initiatives where Seton Hall University Libraries have strengths. (G1 G4 G5 G7 G9) 
  1. Build upon existing strengths between subject librarian and Instructional Design Department to expand collaborations into new areas, including Academies. (Walsh, not IHS) (G8)
  1. Ensure the university Libraries has adequate space to support its programmatic remit on both the IHS and South Orange campuses (G1 G2 G4 G5 G7 G8) 
  1. Develop and optimize physical and virtual teaching spaces with technology and increase consultation spaces, including return of non-Library occupied space. (G1 G2 G4 G5 G7 G8).    
  1. Improve group study rooms; increase electrical distribution on the upper floors of the University Libraries; optimize the mix of seating spaces around student use and needs. (G4 G5 G6 G7 G8) 
  • Optimize and grow available space in Special Collections and the Gallery. (G1 G2 G4 G5 G7 G9) 
  1. Provide accessible physical and virtual spaces; solve the constantly breaking elevators issue. (G4 G5 G6 G8) 
  1. Continue performing tasks at every level to establish the University Libraries’ expertise, knowledge, and competence in support of stated objectives. (G1 – G9) 
  1. Act as an influencer/conduit and repository of institutional knowledge. (G1 G2 G4 G8) 
  1. Model ethical work practices including through training in internship programs (Spallery), professional development workshops (PDG, instruction workshops, faculty retreat), and re-envisioning and redesign student training programs. Support professional development to stay on top of current trends. (G1 G3 G4 G6 G8 G9) 
  1. Continue to enhance shared governance capacities and responsibilities. (G9)  
  1. Enhance our handling of special and rare materials; develop tools for learning about these special collections in support of scholarship, and to attract funding for collections support. (G1 G3 G4 G5 G6 G7 G8) 
  2. Gather user feedback and assessment to ensure this objective is properly met. (G3 G6 G8 G9) (esp. IHS). Conduct website user testing and subsequent site enhancements.