Strategic Directions, Mission & Vision Statements

On November 29, 2023,  ASERL members adopted the following as the Strategic Framework for the Association’s work for the 2024-2027 time period, as well as the following revisions to our Mission and Values Statements.

ASERL Ahead – 2027

1)  Provide National Leadership in Professional Development for Research Libraries

  • Continue provision of innovative and engaging programming, with a focus on new communities
  • Foster new connections and stronger relationships among people working in all levels of ASERL libraries by reducing barriers to their professional engagement
  • Partner with others to expand our reach and impact and to equitably share costs and workloads

 

2)  Enable Ready Access to Rich and Diverse Library Collections and Services in Support of Open Scholarly Inquiry and Research

  • Collaborate to build and share engaging collections that reflect the communities we serve
  • Expand content-sharing to meet our clients’ expectations for fast and easy access to collections and data
  • Support initiatives to improve the legal frameworks of content sharing
  • Support the development of improved methods for scholarly sharing and low/no-cost access to scholarly content

 

3)  Cultivate Organizational Resilience and Strength

  • Foster new relationships with organizations that share our goals and values and strengthen ASERL as a community
  • Maintain a robust infrastructure and business tools to optimize operational efficiency
  • Explore options for diversification of revenue
  • Continually assess our processes to foster high levels of member engagement and a strong organizational value proposition

ASERL’s Mission Statement

Revised November 2023

The success of ASERL libraries is rooted in our people. We support our employees’ development and growth, and strive to make ASERL libraries great places to work.  ASERL members collaborate to build unsurpassed collections and innovative services to support the missions of our institutions and strengthen the communities we serve.   Together we improve access and remove barriers to content and services.

ASERL’s Values Statement

Revised November 2023

“Cultivating a Community of Excellence”

Collegiality: We thrive through collegiality and collaboration, uniting our research libraries in shared missions to build paths forward to address our challenges and opportunities.

Resilience: We navigate change while maintaining unwavering dedication to our purpose and the communities we serve.

Leadership: We provide leadership and innovation, directing the evolution of research libraries and ushering in new standards in our field.

Belonging: We cultivate environments where our members are valued, heard, and accepted as integral to our collective journey.

Transparency: We operate with openness and accountability, ensuring that our actions reflect our commitment to the highest standards of ethical stewardship.

Together, we, the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, embody these values to shape a vibrant network of libraries that drive knowledge, progress, and positive change in our region and beyond.

Our thanks to the ASERL leaders who helped to draft this strategy:

  • Jason Battles, Dean of Libraries, University of Arkansas — Working Group Chairperson
  • Chuck Eckman, Dean of Libraries & University Librarian, University of Miami
  • Anne Cooper Moore, Dean of J. Murrey Atkins Library, UNC Charlotte (retired December 2023)
  • Lis Pankl, Dean of Libraries, Mississippi State University
  • Doug Way, Dean of Libraries, University of Kentucky