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