LibGuides: About Us: Vision, Mission, and Values

Library Supporting Documents

ACRL: Standards for Distance Learning Library Services Approved by the ACRL Board of Directors, July 2008. Revised June 2016.
ALA: Intellectual Freedom Principles for Academic Libraries A strong intellectual freedom perspective is critical to the development of academic library collections and services that dispassionately meet the education and research needs of a college or university community. The purpose of this statement is to outline how and where intellectual freedom principles fit into an academic library setting, thereby raising consciousness of the intellectual freedom context within which academic librarians work.
ALA: Library Bill of Rights The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.
ALA: The Freedom to Read Statement The freedom to read is essential to our democracy. It is continuously under attack. Private groups and public authorities in various parts of the country are working to remove or limit access to reading materials, to censor content in schools, to label "controversial" views, to distribute lists of "objectionable" books or authors, and to purge libraries.

NCU Catalog

Click here to access the NU Course Catalog online

Vision, Mission, and Values

Vision:

The NU Library strives to embody the academic core of the university, provide premier resources and innovative services, and empower its global and diverse community along the path of intellectual inquiry and life-long learning.

Mission:

Northcentral University Library provides a transformative learning environment where knowledge creation and scholarly collaboration take place beyond walls. In support of the University’s Teaching through Engagement Model, the library leverages its staff expertise, innovative technology, and strategic partnerships to elevate our unique and diverse learning community through the curation and accessibility of dynamic resources and services.

NU Library Values:

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: We build, foster, and maintain a climate of intellectual freedom that respects and celebrates differences of identity, experience, and perspective to reduce barriers to research, learning, and engagement.
Innovation, Curiosity & Inquiry: We cultivate curiosity and foster inquiry within the learning community by promoting knowledge and use of library resources, adopting emerging technologies and innovative delivery modalities, and investing in ongoing development and expertise of staff.
Access: We provide equitable access to information resources in multiple formats to meet users’ academic and research needs. Library team members engage in resource development to ensure quality and relevance in the NU Library collection.
Lifelong Learning & Scholarship: We promote lifelong learning and scholarship through the provision of library resources and services from program commencement to graduation and beyond.
Service: We provide unprecedented service, prioritizing the needs of our users and compassionately and professionally communicating, assisting, and instructing through innovative modalities

Library Responsibilities

NU Library Responsibilities Policy

The Northcentral University Library department is an academic unit that facilitates and supports the research needs of the entire Northcentral community. To this end, the Library is responsible for the following:

· Select, purchase, and manage academic resources and materials, such as databases, to facilitate the research needs of students, instructors and team members

· Provide instruction and assistance to users of the Library on locating information and resources through tutorials, webinars, and reference services

· Work collaboratively with other academic units to ensure adequate resources are maintained

· Manage access methods to subscription resources that require proper authentication

· Ensure the entire University Library complies with licensing agreements and provides expertise on issues surrounding copyright law

· Participate in partnerships with other libraries to extend the access of resources and services, such as the interlibrary loan service

· Prepare an annual Library budget to ensure accounts with vendors are kept current, as well as maintains and projects future expenditures

The Northcentral University Library also manages and oversees the Northcentral University Library website. The Library website is a multi-purpose online tool that allows users to access and request resources, contact librarians, and locate instructional materials essential to research. Lastly, the NU Library also strives to make its website accessible in accordance with WCAG 2.0, ADA, Section 508, and other accessibility standards and guidelines.

The Northcentral University Library adheres to ACRL (Association of Colleges and Research Libraries) Standards and Guidelines, promotes information literacy practices to the entire academic community, and follows practices outlined in the American Libraries Association (ALA) Bill of Rights. Additionally, the Northcentral University Library complies with Copyright Law Act (17 U.S.C) and strongly promotes freedom of speech.