Mission and Vision
The Middletown Public Library System is committed to providing great library service to you. This includes providing an inviting atmosphere at the library, providing opportunities for education and growth, and assisting each person to find the materials or resources needed. The Library is a community center, a search engine, and a place that welcomes everyone to lifelong learning.
A Library is an idea supermarket. It gathers and "shelves" learning opportunities for everyone. The Library customer decides what knowledge to deposit in his or her "idea basket." Some customers prefer to savor engrossing fiction, others choose to enjoy the thrill of sharing the life of a historical personality, while some favor contemplating tomorrow as scientific "wonders," foreseen by the world's great ingenious visionaries.
The Library customer determines the information desired and the medium to access it. Whether the medium is a book, a video, or the Internet, it is the customer's choice. And Library personnel are ever-present to help speed the learning opportunity, whatever the preference.
Recognizing that individuals pursue information in their own way, for their own purposes, the Library collects material covering many and varied subjects and viewpoints. All such material is available for everyone seeking to satisfy a desire to learn.
It was Aristotle, one of the greatest ancient Greek philosophers, who wrote, "All men desire by nature to know." He included all men and all women. Everybody. The Library, then, is both the supermarket of knowledge and the search engine necessary to navigate the aisles.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Middletown Public Library System is:
- to build and maintain community libraries from which the community can draw
- to provide information and research services within an inviting atmosphere
- to provide library related community services
In this context the term "libraries" embraces a diverse collection of books, magazines, tapes, discs, and other media, which may be used for the purpose of education, information, or leisure pursuits.
Values and Philosophy
The philosophy of the Middletown Public Library System is to provide the highest level of customer service through:
- prompt and efficient services and programs that are delivered in a personalized manner to all customers
- a comfortable and inviting environment where services and resources are easily accessible
- knowledgeable and positive employees who, through their presentation and demeanor, continually express respect for customers and co-workers
- professional management that maintains the Library's "Best in Class" reputation through progressive and responsive policies and practices
