MISSION AND VISION STATEMENTS

MISSION STATEMENT*

The Mission of the Saskatchewan Library Association is to be the voice of Saskatchewan’s library communities.

ROLES OF THE ASSOCIATION*

The Association achieves this mission by fulfilling the following roles:

a) Encouraging communication and fellowship among members, library staff, and others;

b) Fostering continuing education for library staff;

c) Identifying and respond to issues and situations that affect library staff and libraries;

d) Supporting the principles, standards, and practices that are essential to the provision of excellent library service;

e) Promoting cooperation among libraries;

f) Promoting the awareness of libraries as integral parts of their communities;

g) Partnering with other cultural organizations in promoting the cultural development of the province;

h) Partnering with other library associations to achieve common objectives.

VISION

To build an engaged library and information community that is an active force in Saskatchewan’s social, economic and cultural development.

STATEMENT OF BELIEFS AND PRINCIPLES

1. The Saskatchewan Library Association is a province-wide, volunteer, non-profit organization designed to further the development of library service.

2. The Saskatchewan Library Association is a general rather than an exclusively professional organization that includes as members: individuals, institutions, and organizations who share a common interest in library service.

3. The Saskatchewan Library Association believes that:

a) Library staff recognize the diversity of viewpoints in society; they encourage the free exchange of ideas and knowledge and as such they must operate in an environment of intellectual freedom;

b) Library staff nurture an informed democracy and a compassionate pluralism;

c) Library staff are committed to literacy and life-long learning;

d) Library staff possess both general and specific knowledge and are skilled in its application in an information environment;

e) Library staff are key to accessing library resources and information and to fostering new experiences and discoveries;

f) Libraries are better supported by the unified efforts of an umbrella organization which can bring together key constituents – members, government funding agencies, other organizations, and library users;

g) Libraries of all kinds are fundamental to the cultural, educational, recreational, economic, and political well-being of the people of Saskatchewan;

h) Libraries are valuable assets to the community by adding to and reflecting the quality of life in the community;

i) Libraries are an essential part of a community, providing many forms of information and participating actively in community life;

j) Library resources must be accessible to all.

*The Mission Statement and Roles of the Association are also found in the Bylaws in Section 3.

Taken from the SLA Board Handbook, Section 1: pp 6-7