Mission & Strategic Plan

Collage of six Core members, each one smiling at the cameraCore: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures is the national association that advances the profession of librarians and information providers in central roles of leadership and management, collections and technical services, and technology.

Core members play a central role in every library, shaping the future of the profession by striking a balance between maintenance and innovation, process and progress, collaborating and leading. Our members serve in every level of responsibility for the implementation and maintenance of core services, from the practitioners who keep things running day-to-day to the innovators
going in new directions to those making funding decisions, as well as the library school students who will shape the future. 

What do these folks have in common? They are all working to build and maintain the best spaces and services for their communities and staffs.


Mission

To cultivate and amplify the collective expertise of library workers in core functions through community building, advocacy, and learning.
 


Vision

Core members play a central role in every library, shaping the future of the profession by striking a balance between maintenance and innovation, process and progress, collaborating and leading.
 


Values

Transparency

Core members will find it easy to understand what we do, how we do it, and the roles each member can play to advance divisional and personal professional goals. 

Diversity 

Core champions the belief that we are stronger – as individuals, as a division, and as a profession – when we ensure that our work includes diverse voices. 

Inclusion

Our structure and activities will be welcoming to members – existing and prospective, new to the profession and seasoned.

Knowledge Sharing

Core will be the source for sharing and developing expertise among members, providing programming, publications, and other activities that support professional development in a wide variety of forms.

Collaboration

Core members will have ample opportunities to engage with colleagues and do valuable work, and those opportunities will meet our members where they are. 

Sustainability

Core will design and assess practices and programs that consider both economy and ecology; it will invest in infrastructure and maintenance, and ensure the future of the organization and the profession. 

Innovation

Core will be dedicated to innovating by maintaining a balance between agile and adaptable activities and strategic decision-making with the future of the division in mind.


Core's Value Proposition for Members

At some phases of your career, you will need Core. At other phases, Core will need you.

For and by members, Core delivers mentoring, learning, networking, and leadership opportunities across library types and experience levels. We support each other through collective challenges by building and sustaining a more equitable and accessible future, one Core member at a time.


Strategic Plan

View our 2022-2025 Strategic Plan (PDF)