Appendix B: Values

The key values espoused by Monash University in Excellence and Diversity: Strategic Framework 2004-2008 are listed below, with accompanying text to illustrate briefly how Library activities relate to them.

1) Excellence in education

The Library provides current, relevant resources in appropriate formats to support flexible, student-centred learning and teaching.
It is actively improving its provision of modern, responsive libraries to facilitate learning activities.
Information Literacy and Learning Skills support the development of academic literacies for lifelong learning.
Each branch library seeks to participate in campus planning and support its campus community and to provide services relevant to its needs.
Advances in technology and communications are incorporated into Library operations, often following successful trials of new products or services.
Well-trained staff provide high standard help and information services and play a major role in the Library's focus on excellence in customer service

2) Excellence in research and scholarship

The Library collects print materials and provides access to online scholarly resources for research students and staff.
Subject librarians provide personalised assistance to researchers.
Requested items are delivered directly to the researcher's desktop whenever possible for items not held by Monash branch libraries.
The Library seeks external funding for appropriate research projects and investigates opportunities to collaborate within the university and with external organisations to enhance research.
Most branch libraries have some facilities specifically for researchers.
Digital initiatives such as the ePress and ARROW are intended to preserve and promote Monash University's research output.

3) Excellence in management

Planning, implementation, evaluation and improvement are embedded in the quality management systems in place in the Library.
In aiming for a highly competent staff skills set for the 21^st Century, the Library is extending the skills and knowledge of its staff through a comprehensive training and development program.
The Library adheres to the University's guidelines for staff selection and performance management.

4) Innovation and creativity

The Library has a history of innovation, particularly with regard to new technologies. This is actively encouraged.
Library staff are encouraged to approach change positively, anticipate trends and respond to new challenges. There are opportunities for staff to participate in projects to bring about improvements and to effect change.

5) Diversity

Staff endeavour to provide services that best meet the needs of local, regional and international university communities. Various methods of service delivery ensure availability of resources to students and staff wherever they are located, whenever they require them.
Although Library staff adhere to centralised, overarching Library policies in the interests of consistency, practices may differ at branch libraries to best support the diverse campus populations and the programs taught at the different campuses.

6) International focus

Monash University Library provides training and technical assistance to staff at international campuses as specified in mutually agreed service level statements.
The Library purchases materials that support Monash courses taught globally, and online resources and services facilitate access for Library users off campus.
International students studying at Australian campuses are provided with library skills classes.
Library staff provide policy and practical advice to faculty members responsible for developing and delivering courses outside Australia.
The Library actively pursues collaboration with international partners

7) Fairness

Library staff aim to provide high quality, timely and accurate services to Library users and to treat everybody with fairness, respect and tolerance.
The Library has an active program of supporting users with a disability.
The Library has adopted a range of practices in support of the University's Work Life Family policies.
Equity of workload of Library staff is regularly assessed, with adjustments being made to portfolios if necessary.

8) Engagement

The Library seeks the input of its users and monitors and improves its services to meet stakeholder needs.
Apart from Monash staff and students, groups catered for, with various conditions applying, include alumni, corporate clients, general public, staff and students from other universities and fee-paying Library users.
The Library has a high level of collaboration with other libraries and universities, including joint service arrangements, collaborative acquisition programs and extensive professional engagement, including representing the entire sector nationally and internationally.
The Library seeks synergies with other service providers within the University to include collaborative approaches to service offerings, for example, Information Technology Services, Student and Staff Services and the Centre for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching (CALT).

9) Integrity

Library staff value honesty, professionalism and the maintenance of confidentiality in their relationships with other staff and Library users.
The Library complies with University policies and regulations that support the integrity of the University including equal opportunity, privacy, copyright, plagiarism and disciplinary procedures.
The Library's financial and business practices are open and transparent and conform to high business standards.

10) Self-reliance

The Library regularly reviews its structures and processes to achieve maximum cost efficiency.
The Library supports the University's directions relating to external income and fund-raising through the Friends of the Library and income from donors, and it operates a user pays service to non-Monash clientele through its External Client Services Unit.