Mission Statement

The University of Northern Iowa Rod Library is dedicated to providing a personalized learning environment founded on the strong liberal arts curriculum of a comprehensive institution. It is committed to supporting an intellectually and culturally diverse community. The Library focuses both on undergraduate education and on selected master's, doctoral, and other graduate programs. It is characterized by excellence in four areas: collections, services, staffing, and environment. Through its varied endeavors the UNI Library shares its expertise with, and provides service to, the university community, the library profession, and individuals and organizations throughout the state, the nation, and the world.

Goals & Objectives

Goal 1.0: Provide intellectually challenging and character-building experiences for undergraduate and graduate students in a personalized learning environment.

Objective 1.1: Support the excellence in undergraduate and graduate programs that distinguish the university and attract students to it.

Objective 1.2: Provide a personalized learning environment that responds to needs, encourages growth, and recognizes achievements of individual students.

Objective 1.3: Increase understanding of and commitment to the role and value of a liberal arts education as the foundation of a university education that cultivates intellect and character.

Objective 1.4: Broaden and enrich the intellectual and learning horizons of students by exposing them to a wide range of cultures, perspectives, and creative activities.

Goal 2.0: Build and maintain collections that support the curriculum, the research needs of the university community, and the growth of intellect and character.

Objective 2.1: Select high quality information resources irrespective of format or delivery mechanism.

Objective 2.2: Ensure the visibility of collections and facilitate ease of access to both local and remotely held resources.

Objective 2.3: Cooperate with libraries and other organizations in resource and technology sharing.

Goal 3.0: Develop, promote, and deliver high quality services in a personalized learning environment.

Objective 3.1: Provide in-library and online service points in response to changing user needs and the nature of information resources.

Objective 3.2: Educate users to identify, locate, evaluate, and use information resources irrespective of format or delivery mechanism.

Objective 3.3: Target services for such audiences as remote users, distance education students, and individuals with disabilities.

Objective 3.4: Increase the number of user-initiated services and improve responsiveness to time-specific user needs.

Goal 4.0: Build and maintain a staff distinguished by their professional expertise, their service orientation, and their creative and/or scholarly achievements.

Objective 4.1: Recruit and train a well-qualified, diverse, and productive faculty and staff.

Objective 4.2: Maintain a positive work environment which promotes faculty and staff creativity, innovation, achievement, development, and commitment.

Objective 4.3: Participate in the creation and maintenance of a diverse, dynamic learning and working environment in the university community.

Objective 4.4: Promote the active participation of library staff in professional organizations and programs.

Objective 4.5: Actively recruit and maintain a high-caliber student assistant work force, and contribute to the educational experience of student employees.

Goal 5.0: Provide and maintain an environment conducive to learning, intellectual achievement, and character development.

Objective 5.1: Provide a safe, secure, and aesthetically pleasing building for library users and staff.

Objective 5.2: Employ state-of-the-art technology to deliver programs and services.

Objective 5.3: Increase funding support for the maintenance and expansion of programs and services.