Mission & What We Do

Mission Statement
The University of New England Library Services are central to the intellectual life of the University community. They cultivate a vibrant learning environment by providing access to scholarly collections and resources; by offering services that foster inquiry and independent, life-long learning; by providing welcoming, interactive spaces and infrastructure that enhance the educational experience and support the information needs of the University; and by preserving specific special collections.
Strategic Plan
UNE Library Services Strategic Plan supports the priorities laid out in Our World, Our Future: Strategic Priorities 2018-2023.
Read the UNE Library Services Strategic Plan 2019-2023(PDF)
Services
We are proud to support our mission by providing access to following services:
- Over 250 research databases covering all subject areas in the curriculum
- Over 150,000 journal titles
- Over 1.4 million book titles
- Over 60,000 film titles
- Individualized research assistance via chat, email, phone, walk-in or appointment
- Library orientation and research instruction in the classroom or the library
- Access to and education on the use of unique primary source materials in our special collections
- Art Galleries featuring exhibits to support the curriculum and study seating
- Many required textbooks as e-books or on course reserve at the libraries
- Free interlibrary loan services
- Access to the contents of Maine’s public and academic libraries through MaineCat
- Reciprocal borrowing with other Maine libraries
- Open guest Wi-Fi network
- Dell PC and Mac desktop computers
- High-capacity printers, photocopiers, scanners, fax machines and microfilm readers/printers
- Open 24 hours a day, five days a week during the fall and spring semesters
- Over 60,000 square feet of library space, with group and individual study spaces
- 15 private/small group study rooms
- Employment opportunities for over 50 undergraduate and graduate students each semester
- Open access online publishing and scholarly communications support through DUNE: DigitalUNE
Library Contributions
The UNE Library Services is an institutional member of the following local, state and national organizations:
- American Library Association (ALA)
- Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)
- EDUCAUSE, the association for managing and using information sources in higher education
- Greater Portland Alliance of Colleges and Universities (GPACU)
- LYRASIS
- Maine’s Larger Libraries Group
- Maine Library Association
- Medical Library Association (MLA)
- National Network of Libraries of Medicine/New England Region (NNLM/NER)
- Westchester Academic Library Directors Organization, limited member (WALDO)
Library Staff Contributions
Our library staff are also active in local, state and national professional activities, including:
- Maine Library Association
- American Library Association
- American Library Association Policy Corps
- North Atlantic Health Science Libraries (NAHSL):
- New England Museum Association
- Medical Library Association (MLA)
- American Library Association Leadership Program
- New England Library Leadership Symposium
- Content Working Group for Ex Libris Users of North America (ELUNA) and International Group of Ex Libris Users (IGELU)
- Digital POWRR Institute