They were accepted eagerly: books, especially academic volumes, were hard to come by and didn’t come cheap.

That initial collection of books gave the first Miamians the resources they needed to learn, discover, and grow. Any student who entered the library — no matter their family background, field of study, or financial resources — could access this collection of knowledge. The library leveled the playing field.

Our library system may have changed immeasurably over Miami’s more than 200-year history, but our fundamental purpose has not.

The resource needs of today look different: our scholars require vast datasets and laser-focused journals, 15th-century manuscripts and subscriptions to online newspapers. Their scholarship demands textbooks, augmented-reality anatomy apps, graphic novels, university records, and engineering reference databases. The tools for scholarship — and to acquire the skills and literacies demanded by a modern world — include collaborative spaces, digitized archives, advanced computer software, virtual reality headsets, and 3D printers. And so we provide them, and we provide them to all.

Now, more than ever, the Libraries are an equalizer.

As the current caretakers of this centuries-old enterprise, the responsibility to ensure the continued strength and relevancy of our university library system rests on our shoulders. The actions we take now — how we define our priorities and shape our services — must strive toward that goal in a way that rings true to our mission and values. This strategic plan will serve as our roadmap.

The story of the Libraries is one written by innovators and visionaries, and by thoughtful caretakers with the wisdom of history. I’m honored to share the pen with you as we write the next chapter.