Göttingen State and University Library contributes and provides sustainable and free access to the scientific and cultural digital memory and encourages the use of its collections by researchers, educators and the general public. It supports the protection of intellectual property, the right to privacy and data protection, accessibility and multilingualism. The library is dedicated to improving the visibility of Göttingen University’s research output as well as its cultural heritage. In addition to providing content and infrastructures, the library is committed to fostering information and media literacy practice.

• The library is dedicated to improving the visibility of the university’s research output and to making all scholarly work permanently available according to the principles of Open Access.
• By digitising cultural heritage materials, the library enhances both their visibility and usability for researchers, teachers and the general public.
• A systematic and internationally coordinated approach facilitates the efficient use of resources and the sustainability of the library’s services.

• The library is committed to providing convenient and free access to its printed as well as its digital materials whenever possible.
• Publications or licenses are purchased according to the university’s needs unless additional funds are available (national literature supply).
• The library will preferably acquire digital copies, provided the publisher’s offer is cost-effective and guarantees permanent access with acceptable terms and conditions.
• When purchasing licenses, the library will try to prevent multiple charges through publication or Open Access fees and to support the system transition towards Open Access.
• In its efforts to purchase licenses for digital materials and to make them permanently available, the library is cooperating with other memory institutions.

• Descriptions of digital objects (metadata) will be created according to internationally established standards whenever possible.
• The creation of metadata is dependent on disciplinary requirements and economic conditions.
• The library participates in the development of standards in accordance with the requirements of Linked Open Data.
• The library supports the use and the development of persistent digital identifiers and controlled vocabularies.
• The library’s metadata may be re-used free of charge.

• The library develops its infrastructure consistently and in alignment with other service providers of the university and its partner institutions.
• The library uses Open Source software whenever connectivity, sustainability and efficiency can be guaranteed.
• The life cycles of IT services are taken into account in planning.
• Transparency and high availability of IT services are of the highest priority.