Mission

PCC Shatford Library is the information hub of Pasadena City College. In support of Pasadena City College’s mission, the Library’s faculty and staff meet the information needs of our community by offering virtual and in-person services and resources. As an academic and service-oriented department, we empower students, faculty, staff and community members through learning, teaching, and information access. As professionals and educators, we continuously evaluate our practices in order to meet the evolving needs of our community within the dynamic information landscape.

Values

Academic Integrity, Excellence and Student-First Decision Making

We provide services and resources that align with academic programs and curriculum, the College Mission and Pasadena City College AP/BP 4040. We offer Reference, Outreach and Instructional services that foster information literacy and the ethical use of information. We offer up-to-date print and digital materials that support curriculum needs, quiet and collaborative study spaces, technology, and access that is as free and open as possible for students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Serving students in a thoughtful and responsive manner is our foundation, and we uphold a student-first culture through our policies and practices. We provide in-person and online Reference, Outreach and Instructional services to serve students’ different learning needs, and equitable lending policies that minimize barriers for students.

Cultural Humility

In our service to students, we recognize and value their existing knowledge and acknowledge that authority is constructed and contextual (Association of College & Research Libraries Framework). Improving our cultural humility is an ongoing practice in which we respect students’ self-efficacy, recognize and challenge our own biases, and build campus partnerships to deepen our support of programs and initiatives that can strengthen our service to students.

Social Justice

We value and uphold the right to privacy (American Library Association) and equitable information access and engagement for students and community patrons through our print and digital collection, technology, and library spaces.

Free and Informed Expression

We support students and community patrons in locating resources and materials that align with their information needs, whether for academic goals or personal interests.

Centering the Identities and Lived Experiences of Our Campus Community

Our collection development practices reflect the diverse identities within our broader campus community. We coordinate and curate displays that highlight diverse voices and experiences. We provide library services that are responsive to the needs of students and the campus community, and we value feedback and consider it in our review of library services and collection development.

Transformational Problem Solving

We strive to support students in becoming informed consumers of information and to critically examine multiple perspectives in the research process. From our professional expertise and in collaboration with the Library Dean, we advocate for equitable access to campus resources that help us thrive as the information headquarters for our diverse student population. We continue to develop our professional expertise and recognize that we as library professionals are lifelong learners.

Vision and Library Areas

Access Services

Access Services is the frontline of library customer service and includes the Circulation and Computer Lab Desks. Access Services takes an equitable and student-centered approach to providing information and resources, such as print materials and technology lending, that support student success.

Assessment

Library Assessment gathers data about the composition of the physical and electronic library collection, the usage of the collection and library spaces, as well as operational and instructional services. Library Assessment offers opportunities to review, revise and implement best practices that support students and the community.

Outreach

Library Outreach engages with student-centered campus initiatives to promote the use of Library services and resources. Outreach aims to cultivate a sense of belonging in the Library for students and all members of the campus community.

Reference and Instruction

By providing research help and information literacy instruction both in-person and online, PCC Librarians encourage students and faculty to utilize library resources, evaluate and select appropriate sources for their needs, and engage with the research process as critical, confident, and ethical consumers and creators of information.

Technical Services

Technical Services develops and maintains PCC Library's ever-evolving collections and systems to ensure that library resources (both physical and online) are findable, browsable, and accessible by our users.