Library Mission and Core Values

Barbour Library Mission

Barbour Library is a partner in the seminary's mission to form and equip people for ministry. We advance this mission by offering research and instruction services, acquiring and organizing resources, developing and preserving special collections, providing a variety of study and collaboration spaces, and offering excellent customer service. Barbour Library primarily serves seminary students, faculty and staff, but also welcomes those from local and global communities.

Core Values

• Education: We help our users develop critical thinking and information literacy skills in order to discover, evaluate, and utilize information in their coursework, research, careers, and daily lives.
• Service: We are a user-centered library dedicated to providing equitable access to resources, as well as prompt, responsive, and friendly service. 
• Community: We create a welcoming environment and promote a variety of activities and events that bring people together.
• Collaboration: We actively seek partnerships to improve service and increase access to information as we collaborate among library staff, within Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and within the broader library community.
• Inclusivity: We advocate for, support, and further intellectual freedom while respecting and celebrating differences of identity, experience, and perspective.
• Stewardship: We carefully manage our resources and services to provide Pittsburgh Theological Seminary with access to information.
• Preservation: We share with all libraries the responsibility of preserving the cultural and intellectual legacy of human endeavor and knowledge for current and future use, particularly those materials that speak to the Seminary’s mission and tradition of service.