Cranfield University

We support the University’s aim to be a leading national, European and international institution for the generation, dissemination and application of knowledge in selected subject areas. The role of the Library and Information Service is to facilitate the research, learning, teaching and other activities of the University, by organising, maintaining and providing access to recorded knowledge and information resources and services. We aim to maintain a high standard of customer service by placing the needs of customers at the heart of our service development. We seek to enable staff and students to learn and to develop the information and technological capabilities necessary to achieve their educational, research and professional goals, to succeed in the workplace and to participate in a diverse society.

Our objectives

• To select, acquire, preserve and make available – in collaboration with academic colleagues and other members of the University – a wide range of printed and electronic materials relevant to the University’s mission
• To facilitate and promote quick and easy access irrespective of place or time to the rapidly expanding global collection of electronic and printed sources of primary and secondary information
• To ensure that the quality of service provided by the LIS is continuously improved by using a variety of methods such as quality assurance, benchmarking and the adoption of best practice
• To enhance the visibility and impact of the University’s research by supporting the ongoing development of Cranfield CERES, a digital repository containing a quality subset of research outputs, and to promote excellence in research governance through the application of the principles of Open Access for the benefit of the global community of scholars
• To equip staff and students with transferable information management skills
• To manage our resources effectively and efficiently, to demonstrate value-for money and actively exploit and promote use of resources
• To contribute to, and where appropriate assist in, the development of the University’s broader information knowledge and learning systems, including virtual learning environments, web sites, databases, archives, and management information systems
• To retain and recruit high quality staff and, through training and development, equip them to meet changing service needs and support high standards of customer service
• To understand the characteristics of all customer groups using a number of different consultative methods in order to ensure and effective and reliable service
• To maintain and enhance library buildings to a high standard for collections, user facilities and library staff, and to maintain comfortable and environmentally responsible learning spaces conducive to study
• To contribute to developments in library and information services by participating in regional, national and international activities and, where appropriate, undertaking externally funded research