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Mission, Vision, And Strategic Initiatives

Mission Statement

The UWF Libraries' purpose is to provide information-related resources and services to support the University of West Florida's learning, teaching, research, and community service missions. It intends to inspire the total individual, encouraging personal, social and intellectual growth through the acquisition of information and knowledge.

Vision

The Libraries will be an innovative, inspiring and vital component in the academic life of the University.

Strategic Initiatives:
July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2028

Student Centered and Focused

Provide student focused services, content, and assistance to support research and learning, regardless of geographic location.

Actions:

  • Implement a First Year Experience program to support FTIC and Transfer students
    • Year 1: implement and assess with Biology, develop assessment rubric and metrics
    • Market to relevant campus units/partners
    • Expand beyond Biology to become library orientation program
  • Provide library resources, tutorials, modules, and research guides to ensure flexible learning options. Update accessibility of online materials.
    • Meet the April 2026 deadline for Title II
    • Circulation position rewritten to align with Title II requirements for course reserves provided through Canvas
    • Evaluate and update technology and equipment to ensure users have access to the tools they need for research, study, and engagement with library services
    • Connect research guides to Canvas courses; use springshare stats on libguides to evaluate usage
  • Support the use and creation of open educational resources to provide cost-effective course materials to students
    • Subject librarians provide options to faculty interested in low- or no-cost resources for course materials through a monthly recap shared by subject librarians with liaison areas and shared on faculty resource libguides
    • The library continues to partner with the Provost’s Office, CTLT, and OUR to provide incentives to faculty to increase the creation and use of open educational resources, using Pressbooks and other open access publishing options
  • Explore opportunities for intra-unit collaborations (e.g., Nursing VR goggles, MVRC laptop program, Physics telescope, 1st year pre-nursing textbook shelf) as well as opportunities for investment/funding/reciprocity to enhance library services
    • Pursue funding to maintain the reserves equipment collection as a one-stop shop for student technology resources
    • Connect Circulation services to broader library services available to the student
  • Continue to implement, refine, and expand a communication plan to inform faculty and students about relevant library services and collections
    • Create regular reports with data visualizations that detail specific resources and services for each department and College

Employee Success

Attract, retain, support, and develop capable employees who value continuous learning and improvement in support of organizational mission and goals.

Actions:

  • Create a general onboarding guide for new library employees as well as department specific guides
    • Create taskforce to draft guide, using the Circulation Department onboarding document as a template
    • Department specific guides drafted by each department, with a completed document by Fall 2026
  • Allow employees who meet university eligibility standards to request flexible scheduling
    • Create a mini taskforce to develop list of flexible options, in accordance with HR guidelines
  • Refresh the internal communications page to improve use and provide hub for information sharing among library faculty and staff
    • Conduct an all staff survey to determine wants/needs for internal communication and best communication channels
    • Engage more staff as editors/authors of internal communications
    • Incorporate an RSS feed, if feasible, or similar so the current information is easily found
  • Support professional development, cross training, and participating in collaborative projects
    • Provide funding and time to attend/collaborate
    • Provide multiple opportunities for library faculty and staff to share information, updates, and opportunities for collaboration
  • Align annual evaluations with mission and goals
    • Use SMART goals/objectives
    • Clearly state the library initiative supported by the annual objective

Exceptional Academic Programming and Scholarship Aligned with State Needs

Support student learning, research, and creativity through collections, resource sharing, research support, and comprehensive information literacy programming so students can learn information and critical thinking skills that will assist them in their coursework and throughout their careers.

Actions:

  • Review changes to programs/majors to inform collections, instruction, and research support provided to faculty and students.
    • Implement a 7 year collection assessment plan to consistently and comprehensively review collections for relevancy to the curriculum
  • Partner with OUR to support undergraduate research
    • ASC collection
    • Participate in OUR events/provide space, resources, and support as requested by OUR
  • Coordinate a comprehensive information literacy program
    • Solicit faculty feedback about info lit (2021 survey - time to rerun)
  • Provide access to robust physical and online collections that provide a wide range of perspectives and ideas.
    • Increase resource sharing partnerships to expand access to collections from other libraries.

Community and Economic Engagement

Provide access to resources, information literacy support, and relevant programming to the surrounding community.

Actions:

  • Develop a regular schedule of programs that highlight faculty scholarship and relevant community resources to promote resources and increase outreach to the local community
  • Strengthen outreach to local schools and IB programs to promote resources available to those student populations

Infrastructure

Ensure space and resources are being used efficiently and effectively, providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment.

Actions:

  • Pursue funding for additional ADA compliant door openers on entrances, carrels, restrooms, and other appropriate access points where possible
  • Refresh signage throughout the building to improve wayfinding as budget allows
  • Develop a plan for expanding the makerspace to better support students’ interdisciplinary creativity and learning

Operational Excellence

Ensure services and processes are continuously improved for efficiency and best use of technology where possible.

Actions:

  • Fully implement Analytics and Open Athens usage reports to utilize needed data for evidence-based decisions
  • Continuously review services and operating hours to ensure current needs are being met
  • Partner with the Library Committee to survey students and faculty about library services and resources

Culture of Respect and Civility

Maintain a welcoming and respectful environment that also ensures a commitment to open-minded and tolerant civil discourse.

Actions:

  • Provide low stimulus study areas to address student needs for a variety of spaces to better facilitate studying and learning
  • Conduct regular collection audits to ensure a balanced collection that provides a broad range of perspectives and voices
  • Regular customer service training for all library employees that encourages high quality services to all patrons.