University Libraries Mission Statement
The Wayne State University Libraries advance scholarship, student learning and faculty innovation through continuous development of a library that serves as a national model for a research University with an urban teaching and service mission.
- ACCESS SERVICES: MISSION
The Access Services Area advances student success by providing access to physical and digital collections from internal and external sources. The Access Services Area helps provide study space and technology resources that contribute to achievement in academic success for students.
- DISCOVERY SERVICES: MISSION
The Library online environments and tools advance the academic success and personal growth of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students by providing them with a website containing information about library services and resources; tools for identifying information sources across all disciplines studied at the university; tools for retrieving digital books, articles, and other resources; and the means to request resources and services from the University Libraries.
- LEARNING AND RESEARCH SUPPORT: MISSION
Our public services librarians provide our undergraduate, graduate, and professional students with guidance and instruction, through its own initiatives and faculty collaborations, to support development of the information literacy skills needed to traverse a complex information ecosystem as student and career professionals.
The Reference/Research Consultation Area, through in-person and virtual interactions, advances the academic success and intellectual growth of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students through quality answers to their research questions and by offering guidance in developing their information-finding skills.
- LIBRARY COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT: MISSION
The Library Collections Area Libraries advances the academic success and personal growth of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students by providing them with information resources serials, journals, books, and media in physical and digital formats necessary for such advancement.
- LIBRARY PUBLISHING AREA: MISSION
The Library Publishing Area promotes open scholarly communication through the production, delivery, and preservation of digital research projects, and provides undergraduate, graduate, and professional students with a platform for presenting their scholarly research.
- REUTHER LIBRARY & ARCHIVE OF LABOR AND URBAN AFFAIRS: MISSION
The Walter P. Reuther Library collects and facilitates access to historical documentary evidence in order to inspire academic research, serve the information needs of the community, and build knowledge at Wayne State University.
University Libraries Learning & Performance Outcomes
University Library System Performance & Learning Outcomes (Updated May 2023)
- Learning and Research Support: Use of Library Tools (LO)
Students will be able to locate books and journal articles on a given topic through tools (e.g., catalog, QuickSearch, databases) on the Libraries’ website.
- Learning and Research Support: Evaluate Information Sources (LO)
First-year undergraduate students in FYS1010 will report an increase in confidence in applying strategies to evaluate information sources for reliability and relevance.In the evaluation following the completion of the Information and Media Literacy Module, 80% of the respondents who identified in Question 2 as being “Not knowledgeable at all” or “Slightly knowledgeable” about evaluating information they have found on the internet will identify as being more knowledgeable in Question 4 by selecting moderately, very or extremely.
- Learning and Research Support:Locating Information for Assignments (LO)
Provide first-year undergraduate students in FYS 1010 with the instruction necessary to locate information for their assignments and studies. In the evaluation following the completion of the Information and Media Literacy Module, 75% of the respondents will identify in Question 3 at least 3 resources or services they will likely use to locate information sources for their papers and projects.
- Learning and Research Support: Instructor Assistance (PO)
Provide instructors with the assistance necessary to compose “library assignments” that will encourage students to explore information resources and develop library research skills.
- Learning and Research Support: Reference Services(PO)
Provide reference services and research consultations to assist students with their projects and research needs.
- Library Collection Development: Books for Learning and Growth (PO)
Provide students with books that contribute to learning and growth.
- Library Collection Development: Streaming Media for Learning and Growth (PO)
Provide students with the streaming media that contribute to learning and growth.
- Library Collection Development: Online Articles for Learning and Growth (PO)
Provide students with the Online Articles and Databases (digital journals/articles) that contribute to learning and growth.
- Access Services: Circulation Services for Learning and Growth (PO)
Provide students with circulation services that contribute to learning and growth.
- Access Services: Reserve Services for Learning and Growth (PO)
Provide students with reserve services that contribute to learning and growth.
- Access Services: Interlibrary Loan for Learning and Growth (PO)
Provide Interlibrary Loan services (articles, book chapters and books in print or PDF) that contribute to learning and growth.
- Discovery Services: Library Website (PO)
Provide a website that students use easily and efficiently to meet their study and research needs.
- Access Services: Reservable Study Rooms (PO)
Provide reservable study rooms that students find conducive to study and academic work.
