Mission: The Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery fulfills the information needs of a research university with a distinctive undergraduate and graduate experience. We strive to offer the highest quality resources and services for UMBC's growing and evolving teaching, learning, research and service environment.

Library development of 2008-2012 will focus on the following major initiatives:

• Engage the campus community in planning and assessment for progress: Actively seek campus input to help define library priorities, to identify new initiatives and to assess services to users. Communicate with the campus community about library issues, challenges and accomplishments. Develop cost efficient assessment methods and apply them to measure progress.
• Improve access to library resources: Work toward "next generation" finding tools which simplify and integrate users' discovery of print materials and media with their discovery of online resources - whether owned by UMBC, accessed through paid subscriptions, borrowed from other institutions, or available on the open web. To provide finding tools for a wider range of resources, minimize dependence on human intervention in creating records and maximize digital harvesting of descriptive data. Work toward incorporation of online collectively generated discovery, description and evaluation of resources. Increase digitization of owned materials. Provide full and enduring access records to the Library's electronic resources. Develop the Library's web presence, and collaborate with USMAI (University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions) colleagues to improve online access to shared resources. Identify methods and resources to provide access to the Library's uncataloged collections. Explore and encourage alternatives to subscriptions such as open publishing and purchasing of individual articles "just in time" rather than subscriptions to journals. As they become feasible, provide advanced online tools for discovery, access, evaluation, retrieval and assimilation of information as well as the online means for learning how to use these tools. Our first priority is effective fulfillment of all UMBC information needs.
• Reconfigure library space to provide a physical environment that supports the emerging goals and priorities of our users: Develop an "Information Commons" or "Student Learning Center" on the first floor of the Library, with emphasis on student activity and collaborative learning spaces and effective use of information technology. Reallocate and reutilize space to respond to changes in library priorities and user needs. Address issues of facility renewal and maintenance and improving library building security. Establish a schedule for inventorying and weeding the Library's collections. Cap on-site collection of print at 1.1M volumes. Develop alternatives to in-house access to print-only materials: off-site, consortial repositories with online delivery of printed content.
• Pursue goals in partnership with allies. Participate actively in consortial partnerships, particularly the USMAI, to promote resource sharing and to improve services while enhancing cost effectiveness. Collaborate with faculty to engage students in using information effectively and in becoming life-long learners, and to incorporate information literacy into campus plans and priorities. Collaborate with faculty and campus administration to address issues related to the changing patterns of scholarly communication.
• Provide library staff and faculty with sufficient resources to excel in performing their service mission to the campus. Expand staff development opportunities and effective, timely job-related training, especially for emerging technical innovations and new service models. Foster effective communication and involvement of all staff. Formalize mentoring programs for staff and faculty, and work to create an environment that supports leadership development. Enhance the public relations/publicity program that highlights the library's resources, services, expertise and achievements.
• Prepare for integration of "new media" into the current array of resources and services: Develop demonstration projects and engage the campus community in them.
• Add more online resources: In close consultation with campus constituencies and as funding permits, purchase online resources or access rights; incorporate free and campus-developed online resources; consider conversion of interlibrary loan requests for books to purchase of e-books.
• Optimize the allocation of resources to meet user needs and the library vision. Rebalance levels of effort, organizational structure and use of staff lines to serve the goals identified in this vision. Explore alternatives to the current organizational structure in order to position the Library to take advantage of opportunities provided by internal and external changes. Reorganize workflows and practices for optimal effectiveness in our use of library technologies and resources. Foster participation and collaboration among staff across departmental lines. Integrate assistance for users across departmental lines (with such departments as the Learning Resource Center, the Office of Information Technology).

12/9/2008