Mission Statement
The CW2 Christopher G. Nason Military Intelligence Library supports the research and training needs of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence through the creation and distribution of information products and services.
Vision Statement
The CW2 Christopher G. Mason Military Intelligence Library will facilitate the training of military intelligence professionals by providing instruction and resources necessary to develop the attributes and competencies associated with Army leadership and military expertise.
Support the Schoolhouse
We support the research, educational, and training needs of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence (USAICoE) and its allied community through the delivery of knowledge services - generation of content, development of products, directed assistance, and solution sharing. We support information acquisition, retrieval, presentation, analysis, and distribution by USAICoE students, faculty, and staff.
Trust and Communication
Open and honest communication is critical to mission success and is built on a foundation of mutual trust and respect. In dealing with colleagues and patrons, we will be honest, respectful, and thorough. We will provide quality, actionable information to our patrons and rely on the expertise of our colleagues to assist us whenever needed.
Take Risks and Make Mistakes
We will develop programs, events, courses, and systems that will improve our patrons’ access to the systems that they need. We will monitor information needs and look for changes and upcoming trends. We will be anticipatory in our acquisition and retention of resources. When we make mistakes, we ensure that relevant lessons will be learned and services will be improved as a result.
Be Approachable
There is no work that we are engaged in that is more important than helping a patron with an information question. We will be genuine, respectful, polite, and friendly. We will establish and maintain appropriate boundaries, but we will strive to make sure that every patron knows that we have done and are doing everything we can to help them with their information needs.
Be Flexible, but Use a System
We will create and use systems, workflows, business practices, and other work habits in order to ensure the smooth creation and distribution of information products and practices. However, we also recognize that no system is perfect and will work as a team to ensure that exceptions, when necessary, fulfill the other guiding principles of the library.
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.
I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.
VII. All people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use. Libraries should advocate for, educate about, and protect people’s privacy, safeguarding all library use data, including personally identifiable information.
Adopted June 19, 1939, by the ALA Council; amended October 14, 1944; June 18, 1948; February 2, 1961; June 27, 1967; January 23, 1980; January 29, 2019.
Inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 23, 1996.
A full overview of the American Library Association position on Intellectual Freedom in libraries can be found at this site, including the full text and interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights.