Hesburgh Libraries

Overview

The Hesburgh Libraries is a dynamic organization that features the flagship Hesburgh Library which, along with the Main Building and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, is one of three iconic buildings that define the skyline of the Notre Dame campus. Nearly 60 years ago, Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., envisioned that the library would serve as the intellectual heart of the University. The Hesburgh Library and its world-famous Word of Life mural still stand as a symbol of academic excellence and the pursuit of truth both on Notre Dame’s storied Indiana campus and with scholarly communities around the world.

The Hesburgh Library building houses the Navari Family Center for Digital Scholarship, the Medieval Institute Library, Rare Books & Special Collections, University Archives, and the Visual Resources Center. The Hesburgh Libraries organization also includes three specialty libraries located across the Notre Dame campus (Architecture Library, Business Library, and Music Library). Whether online or within the nearly 500,000 square feet of library spaces, the Hesburgh Libraries engages scholars, inspires intellectual inquiry, and advances teaching and research on campus and beyond.

The Hesburgh Libraries’ mission, vision, and strategic framework are designed to help advance Notre Dame’s aspirations to be recognized as one of the world’s leading research universities while prioritizing human and professional flourishing.

Each member of the library community plays a key role in advancing strategic goals and objectives, sustaining critical operations, and defining shared values. Together, the organization is building an inclusive, diverse, and dynamic culture as we partner across the University to elevate Notre Dame’s teaching and research agenda and simultaneously advance student and faculty work in a networked, digital, and collaborative environment.

Mission

Hesburgh Libraries cultivates curiosity and discovery as a hub for intellectual life. We advance the University’s research, teaching, and learning goals while fostering Notre Dame’s engagement with the global scholarly community.

Vision

Hesburgh Libraries will be a collaborative, diverse, and inclusive community that advances human flourishing. Collectively, we will shift the paradigm on how research libraries further the creation, understanding, and use of knowledge.

Together, the organization is building an inclusive, diverse, and dynamic culture as we partner across the University to elevate Notre Dame’s research and teaching agenda and simultaneously advance student and faculty work in a networked, digital, and collaborative environment.

Goals

1. Foster a strong organizational culture at Hesburgh Libraries by developing shared purpose, clear expectations, and trust amongst all employees.

Objectives

Engage people in implementing Hesburgh Libraries' strategic plan through shared purpose.
Develop the organization's shared values.

2. Build and empower a diverse, agile workforce that advances Hesburgh Libraries' mission and vision while encouraging care for every employee's mind, body, and spirit.

Objectives

Develop and implement a comprehensive talent process that advances Hesburgh Libraries’ and Notre Dame’s mission, vision, and goals.
Develop and implement a refined, effective professional development process, including standards and expectations that emphasize upskilling, reskilling, cross-training, and recruiting.
Recruit, hire, and effectively onboard key positions that will advance Hesburgh Libraries’ mission, vision, and goals.

3. Develop a sustainable, robust, and adaptable technical infrastructure and organization-wide best practices that are the bedrock for effectively managing our services and resources.

Objectives

Implement a strategic technology infrastructure plan.

4. Promote scholarly success through preeminent services and collections that equip users to access, create, and share knowledge.

Objectives

Evaluate the effectiveness of Hesburgh Libraries' current service portfolio.
Enhance our collections to support diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across the campus.
Develop clear expectations, processes, and measures of success for the Libraries workforce’s role in teaching and learning.

5. Inspire affinity with Hesburgh Libraries by sharing impactful stories that enhance our reputation as a leader and partner in the scholarly enterprise.

Objectives

Develop and deploy a sustainable communications process for campus and external stakeholders.
Develop and deploy an effective process that enables Hesburgh Libraries employees to identify and share stories about how Hesburgh Libraries advances Notre Dame’s mission.
Develop and deploy an effective process that enables Hesburgh Libraries employees to engage in meaningful outreach with campus and external stakeholders.

Learn more about the Hesburgh Libraries by visiting library.nd.edu.