The Values Map was developed by the Board and Staff as part of the 2018 Strategic Planning process. These 25 values were reviewed again during the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan Study and were reapproved. To better explain each of the Values we have a list here, in alpha order, identifying how each of these values are key concepts in GLAM services.
Accessibility. We ensure that all people, including those with visible and invisible disabilities have equal and equitable access to our services, programs and collections.
Accountability. We are accountable to our rate payers who provide the core funding of our service; our community who look to us to provide the services they require and request; and to our BMPL team of the Board, staff and volunteers, who look to each of us to demonstrate sound character on our actions and decision-making.
Clarity. Clear information ensures there is no mixed communication.
Community Centered. Our GLAM Services grow out of community needs, and are provided within our community hubs. These two facilities, as well as our pop-up services, have been identified as some of the most important places in our community.
Courageous. In a world of alternate facts, courage to provide valid information, even in the face of opposition is a real issue. Our Board and management must also make courageous decisions as we make fiscal decisions and determine what is the best service model to meet the overall needs of our diverse community.
Creativity. BMPL provides GLAM services that focus on being able to connect, explore and create.
Cultural Awareness. The knowledge, awareness and acceptance of other cultures and cultural identities makes our community a stronger place where we can all live, work and play.
Directness. This value ensures that communication and interactions are straightforward and built on facts. This will further build on trust, respect, and honesty.
Eco-Conscious. BMPL values our local and global environments and provides programs and collections which support community knowledge. Additionally we hold ourselves to this standard in our purchasing policies and daily service model.
Efficiency. Be it our financial decisions, our use of time, or our difficult decisions on services to provide, we practice efficiency a good business practice.
Equity. While equity is also a part of our under-pinning themes, we value equity over equality as information professionals. Our GLAM facilities and services both contribute to personal equitable wellbeing, while also being a tool of equitable access.
Excellence. This value is used as a measure of standard, and propels us to be leaders in our fields, and in the services we provide.
Forward Thinking. To be responsive and innovative, we must be able to be strategic thinkers and be aware of future trends before they become a need.
Helpfulness. As customer service specialists, it is essential that our character exhibits helpfulness. That is a core function of providing reactive GLAM services.
Inclusive. While inclusivity is also a part of our under-pinning themes, we value our communities diverse needs and expectations, including AODA, a welcoming atmosphere, and being a safe place for all who connect, explore and create within our GLAM.
Innovation. Information professionals have been innovators, especially in technologies and information sharing, for decades. Our GLAM must remain innovative in order to meet our community’s diverse needs.
Integrity. Our community understands that as information & knowledge professionals, we provide vetted and reliable resources and content. Our staff also understand that we are held to the expectation to be of an ethical and moral character.
Intellectual Freedom. As information & knowledge specialists, we uphold all principles of intellectual freedom. This is the core foundation of all information & knowledge sectors.
Literacy. BMPL defines literacy beyond the classic “reading, writing, and arithmetic” and strives to provide modern essential life skill. As a knowledge field, our staff bring expertise across the many literacy concepts of 21 century living.
Respect. As customer service specialists, we respect our community members, their differences, and their needs. Respect is a core foundational element to achieving our under-pinning themes.
Responsiveness. This value is essential to how we conduct ourselves to realizing the Vision of the BMPL. In order to meet evolving and diverse interests and needs, we must be responsive.
Stewardship. As a Non-for-profit corporation it is the Board’s responsibility to be stewards of the public organization. Our staff also hold roles in our being stewards of the organization, as well as stewards of information.
Support Democracy. As a core foundation of the information & knowledge sectors, supporting democracy ensures an informed citizenry. Every person has the right to information and free expression, and supporting democracy ensures that all individuals have free and equal access to information.
Sustainable. Our community has stressed for more than a decade, that our Town should keep sustainability as a lens when completing all decisions and plans. Our planning and actions focus on sustainability of our service, fiscal management, and facilities.
Trust. Our community has placed a significant portion of the tax base into our care. It is our responsibility to maintain this trust relationship. Additionally, our services support those from the vulnerable sectors, and often community members who are seeking supports with vulnerable information.
