Department of Library and Information Studies

Mission, Goals, and Objectives

[ Last Revised October 2007 ]

LIS Mission Statement

“Connecting people, libraries, and information through research, teaching, and service.”

LIS Department Strategic Plan

The future is largely defined on what we do today and the discipline of library and information studies is constantly changing and our department believes in taking an active role in helping shape future directions of our department and field rather than simply reacting to it. The LIS community is currently in the final stages of ratifying its first department strategic plan closely aligned directly to the UNC system’s accountability plan and the School of Education and the University’s strategic plans, focused on five strategic directions:

• STRATEGIC DIRECTION #1: Teaching and Learning
  Promote excellence in teaching and learning as the highest university priority
• STRATEGIC DIRECTION #2: Creation and Application of Knowledge
  Strengthen research, scholarship, and creative activity.
• STRATEGIC DIRECTION #3: Campus Community
  Become a more diverse and actively engaged community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
• STRATEGIC DIRECTION #4: Economy and Quality of Life
  Be a leader in strengthening the economy of the Piedmont Triad and enhancing the quality of life for its citizens.
• STRATEGIC DIRECTION #5: Access and Student Success
  Recruit and retain students with the potential to succeed in a rigorous academic environment.

Organizational Values

The departmental values we expect all faculty and students to embrace:

1. High Quality Teaching
   • Provide instruction that is relevant to our students, future employers, and patrons they will serve.
   • Offer instruction informed by contemporary needs and research on effective practices.
   • Ensure that teaching is refined and aligned continuously with needs of the major constituencies we serve.
2. High Quality Research
   • Contribute to the field and discipline of library and information studies.
   • Author published work and academic presentations at state, national, and international levels.
   • Involve students in faculty and independent research projects.
   • Link research to teaching and practice.
3. Fundamental Service
   • Participate on department, school, and university committees.
   • Donate time and expertise to community to help improve the quality of life for all North Carolina citizens.
   • Participate on state, national, and international organizational boards or committees.
4. Collaboration, Competency, and Caring
   • Practice honesty and integrity in all that we do.
   • Maximize and leverage the strengths of all members of our learning community.
   • Communicate openly with candour while maintaining professional etiquette.
5. Relevance
   • Undertake research, teaching, and service that has meaning to our students, colleagues, and organizations that hire our graduates and to society that relies on our collective expertise.
   • Maintain continuous monitoring and evaluation to ensure that our research, teaching, and service is relevant.

Core Organizational Competencies

The core activities we are most proud of and are committed to excel in:

1. Gifted teaching informed by the contemporary needs of employers and our discipline, state-of-the-art methods and technology.
2. Productive research that contributes to the vitality of our students, university, discipline, and society in general.
3. Meaningful contribution to service that ensures the continuing vitality of our department, school, university, and society.
4. Continuous, internalized evaluation to ensure ends, means and processes are aligned and continuous improvement is ongoing.
5. Collaborate and partner with internal and external stakeholders of our program.

LIS Department Goals

Aligned to the most important factors identified by the UNC system, university and school’s strategic plan, our department has identified five primary goals for the 2007-2008 academic year, each accompanied by tangible, measurable objectives and explicit outcomes:

• Goal 1: A learning environment that is current, relevant, and reflects the theoretical foundations of information studies.
• Goal 2: High quality research in library and information studies.
• Goal 3: Respect and value diversity (gender, multicultural, multilingual, and multiethnic) throughout all levels of the department and learning community.
• Goal 4: Graduates are prepared to enter the profession as effective and innovative library leaders, information professionals, and skilled users of technology.
• Goal 5: A professional community based on inclusion that transcends geography, ethnicity, or specialization is promoted and maintained.

2007-10 Strategic Plan

Download the LIS Department 2007-2010 Strategic Plan in pdf format.