NIU Libraries Strategic Plan (FY26 – FY28)

Our Mission

To empower and enrich the diverse university community and region by offering innovative services, curated collections, dynamic spaces, and cutting-edge technologies—all aimed at fostering scholarly, artistic, and career success.

Our Values

Overview

NIU Libraries are committed to advancing knowledge, fostering inclusion, and inspiring discovery in service of our students, faculty, staff, and the broader community. This strategic plan outlines our priorities and aspirations as we align our work with the university’s mission and prepare for a dynamic future.

Below are our core areas of focus — each one rooted in our values and directly connected to institutional goals. These represent both what we are actively working on now and where we are headed.

Fostering Student Success and Wellbeing

Aligned with University Goals: 1A, 2A, 2B, 4A

1. Host structured student feedback sessions on a regular cadence to ensure our services are responsive and inclusive.
2. Through user feedback and best design principles, improve discovery platforms and interfaces to make library resources more intuitive and accessible.
3. Strengthen our collections through evidence-based decision-making, grounded in usage data and curricular needs.
4. Create environments that support academic focus and mental well-being, including expanded quiet zones, sensory-friendly spaces, and improved lighting.
5. Expand tailored support for international students in collaboration with NIU’s Division of International Affairs.
6. Celebrate and support NIU’s diverse communities through programs like the LatinX and Black NIU/DeKalb oral history projects and cultural exhibits such as the Alebrijes installation.
7. Launch a “Library of Things” to provide equitable access to non-traditional materials—such as art supplies and tools—supporting hands-on learning and sustainability.

Making Learning More Inclusive, Innovative, and Integrated

Aligned with University Goals: 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A

1. Collaborate with interdisciplinary programs to embed library expertise directly into courses, such as targeted instruction and research support for HESA and other academic units.
2. Elevate the Book Lab as a site for cross-disciplinary creativity, integrated into teaching, learning, and faculty research.
3. Deliver advanced research support and instruction tailored to the needs of graduate students and faculty, with a focus on primary sources and specialized databases.
4. Foster collaborative scholarship by promoting access to distinctive collections and showcasing university-held resources in new, dynamic ways.

Supporting Research, Innovation, and Equitable Access

Aligned with University Goals: 5A, 6A

1. Establish a task force to explore the potential of AI and emerging technologies to improve discovery systems, data use, and research workflows.
2. Develop sustainable funding strategies and infrastructure to maintain a technology-rich, future-ready library.
3. Expand engagement with unique library resources—such as Science on a Sphere, the Digital Media Studios, and the Book Lab—through targeted faculty partnerships and outreach.
4. Enhance and promote accessibility by making sure that all students, faculty, staff, and community members – regardless of ability, background, or circumstances – can fully benefit from the library.
5. Champion the development and use of Open Educational Resources (OER) to reduce textbook costs and increase accessibility.

Championing Stewardship and Sustainability

Aligned with University Goal: 5B

1. Create a Libraries Green Team to lead efforts in sustainability, energy efficiency, and policy reform for environmentally responsible practices.
2. Promote circular use and reduce consumption through initiatives like the “Library of Things” and other resource-sharing models.

Reimagining Library Spaces

Aligned with University Goals: 6B, 6C

1. Develop a comprehensive facilities and space plan that balances the evolving needs of users with thoughtful stewardship of collections.
2. Redesign and modernize library environments to foster engagement, enhance flexibility, and support student-centered learning.
3. Launch a targeted fundraising campaign to secure investments in technology upgrades, space enhancements, and innovative programming.

Creating a Culture of Collaboration and Synergy

Aligned with University Goals: 3B, 5A, 6C

1. Advance a collaborative model that connects Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM) to promote interdisciplinary teaching, creative expression, and community engagement.
2. Highlight and integrate NIU's rich cultural and scholarly assets to spark research and storytelling across disciplines.