About the Library

Read the Leadership Team’s BLM and Commitment to Action Statement 

Read the University Library Faculty Council Statement in Support of Black Lives Matter

The University Library fosters student success, scholarly research, and academic excellence through the provision of information resources; user-centered services and learning experiences; and welcoming, technology-enhanced environments that facilitate lifelong learning, collaboration, innovation, and the acquisition of information literacy skills.

As an essential campus partner, the University Library aspires to:

• be the center of intellectual and creative life at CSUDH, facilitating teaching, learning, research, intellectual inquiry, and curiosity.
• be an innovative, collaborative, inclusive, and flexible organization that provides responsive, learner-centered services and technologies that meet the evolving information, curricular, and research needs of CSUDH students, faculty, and staff and the surrounding community.
• provide vibrant, welcoming, and engaging learner-centered physical and virtual spaces that facilitate innovation, collaboration, and boundary-free access to information.

Student Success and Information Literacy

We are passionate about student learning and student success. Because we believe that information literacy is critical to students’ success in their academic, professional, and personal lives, we champion the integration of information literacy across the curriculum.

Collaboration

We value teamwork and partnerships, seek new ways to engage with the campus and community, and view collaboration as essential to achieving our mission. Continuous Improvement We foster a culture of continuous improvement, value the unique contributions of all library employees, and strive to provide learning opportunities that advance personal, professional, and organizational growth and excellence.

Diversity

We value inclusiveness and intellectual and cultural diversity and foster a climate of openness and appreciation for differing perspectives. We encourage experimentation, creativity, and curiosity; value innovative uses of technology to promote student success, learning and access to information resources; and embrace the continued evolution of libraries from print repositories to collaborative learning spaces and providers of digital resources.

Intellectual Inquiry

We value intellectual and academic freedom and facilitate the pursuit of intellectual inquiry.

Lifelong Learning and User-Centered Services

We value and foster the lifelong quest for knowledge and self-development and strive to create a welcoming and responsive environment where every person feels valued.

Open Access

We value open access to information and support the growing open access movement in higher education.

Over the next five academic years (2016-2021), the CSUDH University Library will make progress in the following overarching goals identified in the Academic Affairs Strategic Plan:

• Students
• Programs
• Faculty
• Research and Creative Activity
• Public Service and Community Outreach
• Sense of Historical Identity and Diversity
• Space

Working action plans will be developed annually to document planning, timelines, and measurable outcomes for each of the identified strategic directions.

Students

Maps to Academic Affairs Goal 1, University Goals I, II, III, IV, V, VI

• Lead campus efforts to advocate for and provide access to open and low-cost educational resources to ensure information equity among students. Provide library users with friendly, attentive, and consistent service and timely, high-quality information and referrals.
• Develop a variety of online and face-to-face information literacy learning opportunities for students.
• Strengthen the library’s participation in campus efforts to attract and retain students.

Programs - Quality, Strength, and Capacity

Maps to Academic Affairs Goal 2, University Goals I, II, III, IV, V, VI

• Develop a comprehensive and sustainable information literacy program that builds on collaborations with campus partners and includes both foundational and capstone experiences.
• Develop outreach strategies and clear expectations for the library liaison program.
• Develop a culture of assessment that supports evidence-based decision making and accreditation processes.
• Ensure library employees’ strengths, skills, and interests are being best utilized in support of the library’s mission.
• Investigate and implement strategies to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of collection management.
• Develop clear processes, procedures, and policies for both internal and external audiences that ensure the efficient functioning of library operations and services and cultivate a welcoming, clean, safe, and inclusive environment.
• Develop employee expertise in the new unified library management system in order to more efficiently acquire, manage, and share library resources.
• Implement an external relations program that includes communications, publications, and donor cultivation.

Faculty

Maps to Academic Affairs Goal 3, University Goal I

• Foster a community of librarian-scholars committed to a culture of continuous improvement.
• Lead campus conversations about the open access movement and the changing nature of scholarly publishing.
• Ensure that library-provided information resources support faculty teaching and research.
• Develop a suite of information literacy digital learning objects to support online, hybrid, face-to-face, and flipped classroom activities. Strengthen the library’s participation in faculty development efforts.

Research and Creative Activity

Maps to Academic Affairs Goal 4, University Goal II

• Promote student and faculty research.
• Develop and assess library collections to ensure they meet the research needs of the CSUDH community.
• Explore opportunities to transform library spaces into places where both knowledge and materials are created rather than stored and accessed.

Public Service and Community Outreach

Maps to Academic Affairs Goal 5, University Goal I

• Identify and prioritize opportunities for library partnerships with the regional community.

Sense of Historical Identity and Diversity in Shaping Academic Programs

Maps to Academic Affairs Goal 7, University Goal I

• Engage with campus and community partners to cultivate and promote the use of our special and regional collections.

Space

Maps to Academic Affairs Goal 8, University Goals I and V

• Create and maintain exemplary physical and virtual spaces that support teaching, learning, scholarship, and community engagement.
• Because collections are increasingly electronic, mobile, and ubiquitous, repurpose some spaces devoted to housing print materials to become technology-enhanced interactive learning and creative spaces.
• Position the library as the campus’ intellectual and creative hub by hosting events, speakers, panels, workshops, book signings, etc.