VISION
The library is the academic heart of the college, fostering excitement in the process of discovery by challenging lifelong learners to think critically, practice social responsibility, improve their lives, and change the world.
MISSION STATEMENT
The knowledgeable and dedicated library staff provides the college students, faculty, staff, and community members with service above and beyond by:
- creating a welcoming physical and digital learning environment
- providing effective information services to encourage academic success and to inspire lifelong learning
- teaching information literacy and critical thinking skills, and promoting the ethical use of information
- incorporating new and innovative technologies which enhance access to high quality information resources and services
- building relationships and partnerships through collaboration within the college and with external groups
Medicine Hat College Library Services: Service above and beyond.
History
Library Services at Medicine Hat College has always played an important role in the life of the institution. Back in the mid-1960s when the college was first being established at the Medicine Hat High School, a group of eager students developed a unique fundraising idea to help develop a library collection. They contacted famous people (one of them was the Pink Panther) and asked them to donate one of their personal neckties to be auctioned off with the funds going toward the library.
Years later when the college was looking for support to build the new Vera Bracken Library, the students again showed their support when they donated a sizeable amount of money from the Student Association savings toward the building of the new facility. The Vera Bracken Library, named in honour of a distinguished teacher from the community, is located on the main floor of the B-Wing - "Library/Classroom Building". The award winning Vera Bracken Library was officially opened in October, 2003.
Collections and Services
The collection of over 100,000 print and non-print resources and over 20,000 full-text online books and periodicals provide resources for the various users of the library: students, faculty, staff, and community members. Information services are provided on a one-to-one basis at the Information Desk or via text messaging (SMS), instant messaging, email, or telephone. The library works with the faculty to provide an information literacy program that teaches students the important skills of locating, evaluating, and citing information. Circulation and audio visual services control the whereabouts of the large and varied collection of materials and equipment while providing first-class service. The library’s Technical Services functions look after acquiring, cataloguing, and processing the wide range of resources that are made available through the Web-based catalogue that is shared with the University of Lethbridge. Copyright advice, maintenance of the College Archives and Cultural Centre music scores, access to computer stations and wireless connections are all integral services of the college library.
Partnerships
Library Services participates in a number of partnerships in addition to the one with the University of Lethbridge, including the Alberta Association of College Librarians, The Alberta Library, the Canadian Library Association, the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library, and the Medicine Hat Public Library. These connections add to the library’s ability to provide resources and services that are second to none.
