Values Statement

Accountability: Mindful of our role and commitments in the communities we serve, we communicate openly and responsively, attending to our stakeholders changing needs while maintaining responsible stewardship of resources.

Civility: We foster a positive and welcoming environment by treating all members of the community with courtesy and respect.

Collaboration: We develop relationships enhancing and strengthening education, research, clinical practice, and service.

Diversity: We build a safe and respectful environment for all our staff and community members, recognizing that overcoming barriers to their full and equal inclusion is a deliberate, active, and ongoing process.

Excellence: We continually evolve and expand our expertise, resources, and place, achieving the highest possible standards, meeting the needs of our diverse communities.

Knowledge: We advance scholarship, discovery, and professional growth. We enhance knowledge discovery through innovative programming and resources. We preserve the university's historical record and provide avenues for creative pursuit

Leadership: Within and outside of UMB we are a catalyst for discovery and service, and model excellence in professional practice.

Theme 1 - Health, Justice, and Social Impact

Goals:

• Advance health and well-being in our communities through support of innovative health information outreach projects.
• Support and participate in university-wide outreach efforts promoting health and wellness.
• Engage health care providers and researchers to improve clear communications and increase health literacy awareness.

Theme 2 - Research and Scholarship

Goals:

• Advance the scholarly and research goals of faculty, staff, and students.
• Develop innovative ways to organize and deliver information and services to researchers.
• Lead initiatives to preserve the scholarly record and promote scholarly communication.
• Demonstrate the effectiveness of the research enterprise through the use of analytical expertise and tools.
• Create a knowledge culture supportive of entrepreneurship and discovery through responsive and anticipative services.
• Evaluate, acquire, and support the technologies that users need to discover, create, use, and preserve information.
• Create physical spaces and virtual environments that enhance research and scholarship.

Theme 3 - Student Success

Goals:

• Advance the Health Sciences and Human Services Library as an integral part of teaching and learning initiatives at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
• Lead in the use and creation of innovative teaching methodologies and technologies by partnering with instructional design and technology leaders.
• Instruct faculty, staff, and students in the use of information resources and tools promoting discovery, learning, creativity, and innovation.
• Create physical spaces and virtual environments that enhance learning.

Theme 4 - Inclusive Excellence

Goals:

• Promote a culture of civility, diversity and inclusion, responsibility, and excellence within the HSHSL modeling those values in interactions with our user community.
• Prepare staff for new roles through programming and training opportunities.
• Promote a collaborative/collegial work environment.
• Recruit and retain a diverse, knowledgeable and flexible workforce.
• Encourage and sustain expertise, skills, curiosity, and commitment.

Theme 5 - Partnership and Collaboration

Goals:

• Develop staff expertise encouraging innovation, becoming sought-after University partners.
• Cultivate the HSHSL's role as a catalyst for social connection, collaboration, and celebration.
• Spark imagination and stimulate interest in health and social sciences, humanities, and technology.
• Create physical spaces and virtual environments enhancing collaboration.

Theme 6 - Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Assessment

Goals:

• Sustain optimal funding to advance the Library and University strategic priorities.
• Advocate for the HSHSL as an essential component of the university's infrastructure.
• Strive for a stable and appropriate funding environment.
• Diversify funding sources through pursuit of grant, contract, and other opportunities.
• Adopt a lifecycle planning approach that ensures optimal and user-oriented technology resources.
• Reimagine and redesign Library environments through a continuous, evidence-based process.
• Conduct regular needs assessments for service improvements and planning, incorporating users into the decision-making process.
• Communicate library value using evidence-based analysis.
• Through an effective communication and promotion program, build awareness of and support for the Library.