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Mission and Goals Public Services staff at Cornell University Library advocate on behalf of library users in meeting the university’s teaching, research, and service missions. They also serve as the principal point of contact with users who rely on the library—both physically and virtually—for authoritative resources and services. Located in each of the 20 library units within the system, public services staff members support a range of functions, including circulation, reference, instruction, outreach, web development, interlibrary loan, document delivery, building coverage and facilities, stacks management, collection building, and assessment and usability. Public Services Administration at CUL is vested in the Public Services Executive Committee (PSEC) (link) comprised of librarians from across the library system who manage a range of functional responsibilities. The Associate University Librarian for Instruction, Research, and Information Services chairs PSEC and represents public services on the Library Management Team. PSEC sets policy, defines goals and objectives, and works collaboratively with other library entities to support users needs. Six standing committees reporting to PSEC support ongoing system-wide public service functions and implement CUL and PSEC priorities. Mission In defining public services at Cornell, we place the user first and are motivated by the following principles: • Users deserve consistent, reliable, knowledgeable, and receptive public services across CUL • Users expect library systems and services to be intuitive, logical, convenient, easy to use, and responsive to their research and learning needs • Users want to take advantage of the convenience and speed of new technologies and network capabilities even as they depend on traditional ways of seeking and using information • To meet the ever-changing needs of users, public services staff have agreed to • Serve as the user’s proxy when necessary in the library, the university, and the library and information profession • Think and communicate like users in developing and delivering services and information • Remain open to new ways of thinking about how best to meet public service needs • Devote resources efficiently in meeting goals and priorities Public Services Goals • Provide services and skills development to promote research, teaching, and (lifelong) learning • Expedite access to information and content cost effectively • Enhance public services in the digital environment • Promote information fluency • Enable user self-sufficiency while providing guidance when needed • Anticipate and respond to users’ changing needs by engaging users, harnessing technology, and fostering flexibility in staffing, services, and content • Maintain a service-minded perspective in engaging users through personal contact and other forms of communication • Partner with faculty early on in designing, developing, and implementing research and teaching initiatives • Ensure that public services staff develop the necessary expertise and experience to fulfill these goals |  | |
