Vision Statement

The Library develops and provides services and collections that meet the needs and contribute to the vitality of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the broader communities of which it is a part. In 2008, the Library will be even more thoroughly integrated into the fabric of the University through campus collaborations characterized by scholarly productivity and active engagement in instruction and public service. The Library's major strength is its people, the faculty and staff who bring their special skills, expertise, and talent to these collaborations and who are responsible for the Library's strong national and international reputation.

To achieve this integration into the academic enterprise, the Library will find a balance between its services and collections priorities, develop innovative ways to provide access to resources and services, and become a more fully collaborative organization characterized by a challenging and supportive work environment that offers opportunities for experimentation and creativity. The Library also will expand continuing education for all personnel, build greater financial resources, and improve facilities. Specific efforts will include providing stable and reliable collections of owned or licensed content, offering an array of services that support current and lifelong learning, and organizing information onto meaningful and accessible forms. The Library also will provide well-equipped and functional workspaces for individuals and groups, manage sufficient space to store collections in suitable environments, and serve as a cultural repository of international importance.

Because of its outstanding services and collections, the Library will continue to be internationally recognized for its leadership among research libraries, its contributions to the University, and its role in the creation of knowledge and the development of an educated and informed society.