Overview
Our Mission
For scholars across the globe, we steward and provide access to diverse collections and preserve the knowledge and history of the university. In the Libraries’ physical and virtual learning spaces, we offer inclusive services and innovative technologies for learning, study, and collaboration. Our teaching programs enhance information literacy skills and lifelong learning, and our extensive outreach activities strengthen the university’s public service mission.
Our Vision
We at the UMD Libraries are recognized leaders in the design of innovative, user-centered programs, services, and spaces. Acting on our core values, we fully leverage our expertise and collections, our commitment to inclusivity, and strategic partnerships to advance the university community’s highest educational and research aspirations.
Our Values
In addition to our commitment to the American Library Association’s Core Values of Librarianship, and the Society of American Archivists’ Core Value Statement and Code of Ethics, the following organizational values are foundational in the Libraries’ planning, operations, and approaches.
We are a democratizing force, providing an equitable and inclusive environment for using and creating knowledge. We foster lifelong learning in our community because we believe all people should be able to participate fairly in society. We are deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility through our programs, collections, and physical and virtual spaces.
We are expert information professionals and caring stewards of the knowledge, collections, and resources entrusted to us. As we apply sustainable, future-oriented approaches in our practices, we value deep expertise and experience in our organization. We use assessment and evaluation to affirm the lasting impact of the work we accomplish every day for our users at the university, the state of Maryland, and beyond.
We are empathetic in our design and provision of user services and spaces, and in our problem-solving, collaboration, and inclusivity. We respect each other and our users and have a deep regard for all people and for equitable processes.
We are leaders in our promotion and defense of individuals’ rights to intellectual freedom, freedom of expression, privacy, and the right to participate fully in society. We apply our professional values with integrity at all times, and fearlessly explore new ideas within our organization.
In our quest to help people improve their lives through education and learning, we come to our work with creativity, passion, and pride. We are adept at changing our organization, spaces, and our programs and service models in anticipation of and in response to our users’ evolving needs. We are tenacious and innovative in our support of the university’s research, learning, creativity, and experimentation.
Discover Your Libraries
With over 6.7 million titles in our collection - including online books and journals, archival manuscripts, photos, recordings, and of course, books - and easy access to 100+ million titles in the combined collections of the libraries of the Big Ten, Terps have a wealth of information at their fingertips - online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from wherever they are studying and researching, and at seven campus libraries. A helpful team of librarians provides subject-specific expertise and support in every academic discipline.
- McKeldin Library is the main library on campus and includes the Terrapin Learning Commons, Undergraduate Writing Center, Graduate School Writing Center, and Adaptive Technology Lab.
- Hornbake Library houses the University's Special Collections and University Archives, the Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities, an exhibition gallery, and the Katherine Anne Porter Room.
- The Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library, located in the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, is the central location on the College Park campus for music, theatre, and dance materials and includes a main reading room, individual study carrels, group study room, and an exhibition gallery.
- The Architecture Library, located in the Architecture Building, contains materials on architectural design, theory and history, urban design, landscape architecture, and building technology.
- The Art Library, located in the Art-Sociology Building, provides access to resources in the areas of art history, archaeology, studio art, photography, graphic design, interior design, and textiles, including art reproductions and art exhibition catalogs.
- The STEM Library, located in the Mathematics Building, provides resources and research support to students in engineering, computer, mathematical, and natural science disciplines, and serves as a U.S. Patent and Trademark Resource Center.
- Severn Library, located ten minutes from campus, is a high-density shelving facility that houses unique and semi-rare research collections. Deliveries from Severn Library arrive at McKeldin Library daily.
Beyond our Buildings
Named the 2020 top university library by the Association of College and Research Libraries, we are actively engaged in local, statewide, national, and international initiatives to help shape the future of academic research libraries.
Your libraries also teach information literacy sessions for nearly 20,000 students each year and help the University community disseminate and preserve their scholarly work.