about The umw libraries

Through our services and collections, the Libraries of the University of Mary Washington strive to meet the research needs of the UMW community and to enhance and support the instructional programs of the University. Our services are provided at our locations on UMW's two campuses. Simpson Library, located on the Fredericksburg Campus, houses our main collection of over 367,000 printed volumes and a Government Resources Depository Collection, as well as the University Archives and Rare Book Collection. The CGPS Stafford Library is located on the Stafford Campus and houses a collection tailored to the instructional programs offered at the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. Further, UMW Libraries offers access to over 100 databases and 42,000 electronic books.

Mission and Goals

UMW Libraries Mission

It is the mission of the UMW Libraries to enhance, extend and challenge the classroom instruction provided within the academic program of the University. The Libraries acquire, organize, house, preserve, and make available to the University's students, faculty and staff materials that support teaching and research. The UMW Libraries strive to be an important component of the intellectual life of its various constituents.

UMW Libraries Goals

Goal A
Develop and maintain a collection in accordance with the Association of College and Research Libraries' Standards for College Libraries that is appropriate in size and scope for the University's academic mission.

• A.1 To create and shape a collection of high quality which meets the curricular requirements of faculty, students and administration of the University.
• A.2 To foster faculty input concerning the selection, deselection, and cancellation of library materials, continuing the distribution of Choice review cards.
• A.3 To evaluate and redefine the collection and other information resources on a continuing basis using, but not being limited to, standard bibliographies, review literature, cross-collection studies of peer institutions, frequency of use of Virtua (online public access catalog).
• A.4 To maintain status as a partial depository for U.S. Government Printing Office publications and a full depository for Virginia State Publications.
• A.5 To monitor user needs in the collection through direct contact, user surveys, faculty ordering patterns, course offering decisions, and library liaison contacts with departments.
• A.6 To formulate, and encourage compliance with the Association for College and Research Libraries' standards for the collection.

Measures/Sources of Data for A's Objectives
Inquire about resources meeting needs through the annual patron satisfaction survey. Obtain feedback from faculty through liaison relationships, occasional attendance of departmental meetings, and faculty survey results. Determine ratio of volumes to combined total of student and FTE faculty, ratio of volumes added per year to combined total of student and FTE faculty, ratio of material/information resource expenditures to combined total student and FTE faculty.

GOAL B
Provide bibliographic access in accordance with the Anglo-American Catalog Rules, II and the Association of College and Research Libraries' Standards for College Libraries to resources in its collections as well as to such material as may be needed from outside the University by means of various loan and electronic arrangements.

• B.1 To make all materials accessible online through Virtua.
• B.2 To use standard practices of intellectual organization in cataloging and processing materials with accuracy and efficiency.
• B.3 To provide an effective means for the circulation of library materials and to take necessary steps to ensure their timely return.
• B.4 To provide an effective means for the control of reserve materials identified by faculty.
• B.5 To provide timely interlibrary loan service to meet the information needs of the University community.

Measures/Sources of Data for B's Objectives
Review results from the survey used to measure post-service user satisfaction. Monitor turn-around time for placing materials on reserve from receipt of faculty request. Monitor turn-around time and fill rates for interlibrary loan services. Monitor personnel productivity and accuracy in annual performance reviews.

GOAL C
Train patrons in locating, using, and managing information reference services in accordance with the Association of College and Research Libraries' Standards for College Libraries.

• C.1 To present to all students a general orientation to the Libraries and its services through a virtual tour and introduction to the Libraries.
• C.2 To provide instruction leading to the completion of the University's Library and Information Literacy requirement. Students are introduced to research methods and strategies, familiarized with basic information resources, and introduced to the use of Virtua and other electronic retrieval devices.
• C.3 To offer a credit-bearing course in library skills at least once a year.
• C.4 To promote and offer in-class bibliographic and information instruction classes in all appropriate courses.
• C.5 To utilize the Libraries’ departmental liaison program and collaborate with faculty in order to develop and expand in-class opportunities for Libraries’ staff to assist faculty in their upper-level courses.

Measures/Sources of Data for C's Objectives
Use assignments to assess students' actual use of library materials utilizing a library online tutorial. Students will show proficiency by completing the "Library Research Skills" Web-based tutorial. This tutorial includes a pre- and post-test for assessment purposes.

GOAL D
Construct and sustain positive working relationships with academic departments, the student body and other units of the University to foster and ensure effective development of library services.

• D.1 To maintain communication to the campus-at-large via the Libraries’ web site for announcements and developments within the Libraries.
• D.2 To provide a means for patron's feedback and suggestions via a link on the Libraries' web site.
• D.3 To develop and maintain departmental resource guide links on the Libraries' web site for subject introduction and familiarization of library materials.
• D.4 To provide aids for use of online catalog and automated bibliographic tools.
• D.5 To maintain direct liaison contacts with academic departments by professional librarians in Reference and Instructional services.
• D.6 To maintain the Libraries' contact with the following committees: Curriculum, Campus Academic Resources, Computer Advisory, Copyright, Instructional Technology.

Measures/Sources of Data for D's Objectives
Assess the liaison relationship of members of the Reference and Instructional Services section during annual performance reviews. Assess satisfaction with the Libraries’ operations and services through surveys of faculty, administrators, and students. Monitor comments and suggestions submitted through the Libraries' web site.