About the Library

The MCPHS Libraries advance intellectual inquiry and discovery across the MCPHS community through our collaborative relationships and robust resources and services.

The MCPHS Libraries will expand our essential role in educating curious, information-literate professionals who seek continuous learning and advance a healthier, more equitable world.

We are guided by the MCPHS University core values of integrity, community, engagement, collaboration, support, and innovation, and professional codes of ethics as outlined by the American Library Association and the Medical Library Association. We commit to:

1. Advance Learning and Curiosity
2. Provide Equitable and Inclusive Support
3. Nurture Creativity and Flexibility
4. Embrace Kindness and Respect

Priority 1: Librarians as Educators

Purpose

Librarians use their expertise to facilitate the development of students’ information literacy, collaborate with subject faculty as co-educators, and participate in teaching-focused professional development.

Goals

1. Integrate information literacy into the University and program curricula through our comprehensive, scaffolded instruction program.
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of our teaching through regular assessment.
3. Collaborate with the Center for Teaching and Learning to advance the ongoing development of faculty pedagogical skills.
4. Develop and maintain systematic relationships with subject faculty to integrate librarian expertise into the curriculum.

Priority 2: Access to Information

Purpose

Librarians ensure the MCPHS community can access reliable, accurate, current information that supports teaching, scholarship, service, and civic engagement.

Goals

1. Provide user-friendly and equitable access to content through our institutional subscriptions, resources, physical collections, and support services.
2. Evaluate and develop collections based on both usage data and anticipation of patron needs, with special attention to reserves and their role in curricular support.
3. Serve as Open Educational Resources (OER) consultants by maintaining knowledge of best practices and standards to support the development and use of these resources.

Priority 3: Library Faculty & Staff Success

Purpose

Nurture a healthy and balanced work environment that fosters professional development and career advancement for all Library employees.

Goals

1. Identify single expert functional areas and other professional skill gaps or areas for professional development.
2. Mentor Library faculty through the academic promotion process.
3. Support organized, intentional professional development opportunities and training to help address skills gaps.
4. Examine organizational structure and job descriptions to ensure they are sustainable and professionally engaging.

Priority 4: Scholarship & Research

Purpose

Develop, implement, and support sustainable library services to advance scholarship and research for University researchers at all levels.

Goals

1. Provide guidance throughout the research life cycle, from initial literature review through publication and preservation of data and other scholarly outputs.
2. Further develop the physical and digital infrastructure, policies, and personnel for archives and preservation.
3. Identify the scholarship and research needs of university researchers to better align library services and resources with their work.

Priority 5: Technology & Infrastructure

Purpose

Adapt and maintain our physical and digital spaces to meet the needs of our user community.

Goals

1. Improve access, efficiency, and innovation in our digital and physical spaces.
2. Strive for seamless access to MCPHS Libraries’ digital resources and services.
3. Maintain, improve, and advocate for physical spaces based on user and library needs.
4. Be versed in and keep current with emerging technologies.

Priority 6: Outreach & Engagement

Purpose

Collaborate to build meaningful internal (MCPHS) and external relationships to enrich our communities.

Goals

1. Ensure that the MCPHS Libraries' physical and virtual spaces are user-centered, welcoming, and inclusive.
2. Develop strong relationships with departments and communities across all campuses and online.
3. Serve as a conduit to connect the MCPHS Libraries to wider organizations such as hospitals, consortia, and professional organizations.
4. Raise the profile of the MCPHS Libraries among students, faculty, and staff.