Library Goals & Policies

The following sets out the main goals or policies the Library will pursue in support of its mission:

1. Together with other academic support services, to co-operate with teaching staff to facilitate effective learning.

2. To assess the library resources required to meet the needs of its users.

2.1 To be involved in the planning of all educational programmes in order to ensure that present and future curriculum development is adequately supported by library resources.

2.2 To identify and respond to user needs.

2.3 To assess the physical resources required to provide an environment conducive to study, and which also promotes flexibility and administrative efficiency.

3. To acquire materials to support the educational aims and social interests of the University as set out in the Library's Collection Development policy.

4. To meet the learning requirements of students by ensuring that information is readily accessible.

4.1 To provide a comprehensive record of materials held in and accessible through the library.

4.2 To have a circulation policy which makes the most effective use of available resources.

4.3 To provide an active information service based upon the specialist knowledge of professional library staff.

4.4 To promote links with other libraries and external resources of information both locally and nationally.

5. To promote library resources.

5.1 To publicise the library's resources and services and promote their exploitation by the University community.

5.2 To provide a current awareness service to teaching staff.

5.3 To encourage members of the University community to express those needs which can be met by library services.

5.4 To provide advice on bibliographical and associated matters to teaching staff and students.

5.5 To publish a range of literature to enable the effective use of resources and services.

5.6 To ensure adequate guiding to the layout of the libraries and their resources.

6. To provide guidance in library use.

6.1 To promote, in collaboration with teaching staff, the education of students to enable them to become information literate.

6.2 To enable students to gain a knowledge and understanding of the range of resources available to them and to help them become practised in their use.

6.3 To help students become familiar with the library and its services through Orientation programmes.

6.4 To provide guidance to students with their projects, senior essays and independent study.

7. To manage the library in a cost-effective manner consonant with the University's policies, procedures and legal requirements.

7.1 To review regularly and critically the library's internal operations and effectiveness.

7.2 To plan the future development of library systems and services using available resources in a cost-effective manner.

7.3 To ensure that the financial resources available to the library are efficiently and effectively deployed.

7.4 To keep accurate and appropriate statistical records.

7.5 To ensure clear two-way communication within the library, between the library and its users and between the library and the academic and administrative departments of the University.

7.6 To ensure that staff resources are developed to their full potential, maximising the contribution of all staff to the library's work.

7.7 To ensure that library property is, as far as possible, protected against loss and vandalism.

7.8 To ensure that the libraries meet with the requirements of Health and Safety legislation.

7.9 To ensure that the library complies with the laws on copyright.

8. To review the library's stated policies as circumstances change.