History: Mission Statement & Goals

HISTORY

The establishing of the library literally began with a memorandum from the Office of Civil  Administrator, Captain H.M. Anderson to Navy Welfare and Recreation Service on  August 23, 1947. The “Temporary” building was a double Quonset hut that sat on an  area near the Agana Azotea. It started with a stack of donated, used books from local  volunteers, teachers, associations, etc.

The Library formally opened for business on February 1, 1949 to a community of 58,000  with the amount of 272 registered patrons. In the summer of 1949, it was named in  honor of “Nieves M. Flores”. He is a Philippine migrant who came to Guam in late 1912  as a surveyor for the Governor. He married a woman from Guam “Guadalupe Alcantara  Cruz” on November of 1916. He also became the founder of the Guam Institute  (Children’s Elementary School) in 1923. He passed on in June 7, 1949.  We have just currently renovated some areas of the building as well as adding a new  Children’s Library wing and Internet Café, which is still underway. Renovations began in October  of 2015. Our grand opening after the renovation project was on March 3, 2016. We  currently have a number of 65,467 registered patrons with us today. We also have five  branch libraries spread out to serve other areas of the Island.  

BRANCH LIBRARY SERVICES  

Agat Branch Library Services Began in 1968. Later named in honor of Maria Rivera  Aguigui, a 40 year Educator in the areas of Agat & Sumay on September 4, 2002.  Dededo Branch Library Services Began in 1968; Barrigada Branch Library Services  Began in 1970; Merizo Branch Library Services Began in 1974. Later named in honor of  Rosa Aguigui Reyes on December 23, 2008. Rosa was a pioneer in Politics and  Education. Her long career in Education started in 1933 and she was the first woman  elected to Guam Congress in 1946. Yona Branch Library Services Began in 1993;  Bookmobile Library stared servicing our Island since 1953. Unfortunately this service is  currently unavailable for a few years now. 

MISSION

Serving Guam residents since 1949, our mission is to provide free and open access to information and ideas fundamental to a democracy. The library system will protect intellectual freedom, promote literacy, encourage lifelong learning, and maintain cultural materials. To accomplish its mission, the library shall: Seek to understand the informational, educational and recreational needs of all the people of Guam in accordance with the American Library Association Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read, and Freedom to View statements within the limits imposed by budget and space; Extend library resources into the community to assist individuals and groups with special needs; Work cooperatively with other island libraries in providing information to the public; Pursue opportunities through new technologies to deliver information more quickly and efficiently.

GOALS

To accomplish its mission, the library shall:
Seek to understand the informational, educational, and recreational needs of all the  people of Guam in accordance with the American Library Association Library Bill of  Rights, Freedom to Read, and Freedom to View statements within the limits imposed by  budget and space; Extend library resources into the community to assist individuals and groups with special  needs;   Work cooperatively with other island libraries in providing information to the public;  Pursue opportunities through new technologies to deliver information more quickly and  efficiently.  

Approved by the Guam Public Library Board October 23, 1995