PALNI Shared Values

PALNI Values Statement
(Approved By PALNI Board on November 17, 2005)

PALNI is a 501(c)3 organization that has as supported organizations twenty-four private colleges, universities and seminaries in Indiana. All of these institutions have joined PALNI because of a belief in the power of collaboration as a mechanism for improving library services. The PALNI Board of Directors believes that a broad statement of the values that undergird the organization and a statement of values that guide the implementation of consortium programs are useful tools in reminding ourselves of first principles that should be honored in our work.

These values establish the context for the consortium and provide a foundational statement for the organization.

• We achieve more together. Libraries working together make us individually stronger.
• We respect each supported organization and library. We will strive to understand the needs of each individual supported organization and find common ground to serve the libraries of the supported organizations jointly.
• We expect to improve the equality of access to information for the students, faculty, and staff of supported organizations. Through our efforts, we strive to level the playing field of access to information resources.
• We provide leadership. PALNI is committed to being an advocate for supported organizations’ interests and values in state-wide collaborative ventures.
• We engage in and enable continuous learning. PALNI is committed to the belief that continuous learning is essential in a rapidly changing world.
• We encourage participation. We will provide opportunities for supported organization participation and engage in open communication in our decision-making and governance.

In developing the programs of PALNI, the supported organizations will strive to honor these values:

• Equity of service across types and sizes of libraries. While supported organizations may opt for different types and levels of service, we will always strive for equity in terms of common understanding of level of use and ability to pay.
• High quality of services. We will provide sustainable, affordable, and ready access to services that are tailored to the evolving information needs of supported organizations.
• Collaboration and resource sharing. We will serve as an effective vehicle for the supported organizations to share their resources, services, programs, and ideas, leverage their purchasing power through group efforts, and, reduce the risk for individual supported organizations.
• Innovation. PALNI is committed to bringing new services to the libraries of supported organizations, making supported organizations aware of best practices, and encouraging innovation among our supported organizations.
• Flexiblity and responsiveness to supported organizations' needs as we continuously adapt to the change that affects us. We will strive to find ways to address change, to understand it and its impact, to accommodate to it, and to prompt change that helps us better achieve our goals.
• Efficiency in all of our operations. Limited budgets of supported organizations make it essential that operations of PALNI be consistent with these financial constraints.
• Effective stewardship. PALNI is committed to the effective use of the resources that supported organizations entrust to the consortium.*