Library Mission & Strategic Plan

Mission

Cultivating scholarship and intellectual curiosity in our community through access to expertise, collections, and spaces.

Strategic Plan

Updated July 2026

The strategic plan for the libraries describes our goals for the evolution of library expertise, collections, and spaces from 2025-2027. The plan is deliberately ambitious and includes objectives that we hope to achieve in each area, along with specific actions which may change from year to year.

Expertise

Advance the educational mission of the College

Objectives:
  • Ensure that all students graduate with a strong knowledge of the research process and are literate in the use of information, digital and emerging technologies, and primary sources.
  • Build library staff capacity for, and communication about, responsible use of emerging technologies across campus.
  • Develop sustainable and accessible professional practices.
  • Provide meaningful opportunities and engaging library experiences for students  to prepare them for future employment and develop professional skills.

Collections

Adapt collections and discovery practices to our evolving information landscape.

Objectives:
  • Adapt collections and discovery practices to our evolving information landscape.
  • Elevate the visibility and accessibility of our Special Collections and the College Art Collection, maximizing their impact both within the Swarthmore community and across the globe.
  • Improve the discoverability, sustainability, usability, and cross-compatibility of our digital spaces and infrastructure ecosystem.

Spaces

Maximize the potential of library spaces to strengthen teaching, learning, and research at the College.

Objectives:
  • Maximize the potential of library spaces to strengthen teaching, learning, research, and well-being at the College.
  • Develop existing library space to better meet the needs of current students and explore potential innovative uses.
  • Engage faculty, students, staff, researchers, and alumni in sustained and lively conversation around library planning.