In the fall of 1999, the Librarian of the College charged the Library Department Heads Group with the preparation of a comprehensive report to inform appropriate individuals and offices of the state of the Library. This report describes the Library's service programs, information resources, organization and staffing, budget, facilities, special programs, and external relationships as they exist on February 15, 2000.1
Dartmouth College, founded in 1769, today combines the best features of the undergraduate liberal arts college with those of the research university. It is dedicated to providing undergraduate, graduate, and professional education of the highest quality, and to fostering a love of learning and discovery in every member of the community. Founded as an undergraduate institution more than two centuries ago, Dartmouth offers select graduate programs in the Arts and Sciences, engineering, and medicine, and professional degrees in business, engineering, and medicine. These professional schools are among the oldest in the nation in their respective fields and have a historic role in defining Dartmouth’s intellectual values.
As the principal academic service organization for the institution, the Library serves the following constituencies:
In addition to the academic clientele, Dartmouth College administrative and professional staff, notably curators at the Hood Museum of Art and Development staff, regularly consult librarians and use library services. The Library is also open to the public; services and collections are used daily by alumni, area residents, and other researchers.
The Council on the Libraries represents the primary groups served by the Library and works closely with the Library administration.2
The Dartmouth College Library is a service organization whose mission is to meet the academic, research, and programmatic information needs of the Dartmouth community, as well as the scholarly community beyond Dartmouth. In an environment dedicated to scholarship, teaching, learning, and research, the Library provides services and resources needed by its diverse user groups.
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"The Dartmouth College Library in the Year 2000"