History
The library was established alongside Khon Kaen University in 1964. Initially, It operated temporarily at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, in the Faculty of Pharmacy building, Mahidol University, with support from the Canadian government. The University of Manitoba in Canada provided a Canadian librarian, Mr. Derek R. Francis, as a library consultant under the Colombo Plan assistance project from August 1965 to December 1966.
In June 1966, Khon Kaen University relocated to Khon Kaen Province, and on October 23, 1966, the library moved to the 2nd floor of the Faculty of Engineering building. Mr. Derek R. Francis collaborated with M.R. Jeerawat Jakrapan, a Thai librarian who graduated in Library Science from Columbia University, during this transition.
The first central library building was constructed with a budget of 2.5 million baht on May 10, 1968 (currently Building 2, Office of the President). Initially, the building was repurposed as a temporary classroom for students of the Faculty of Education’s demonstration school. In April 1972, the library was officially relocated to this building and became the Library Division under the Office of the President of Khon Kaen University.
On May 14, 1979, a royal decree was issued to establish the Academic Resource Center. Later that year, the foundation stone for Building 1 was laid on December 27, 1979. This three-story building was constructed with a 12 million baht budget, covering 3,000 square meters, accommodating 500 seats and 250,000 books. The relocation to this new building in February 1981 improved accessibility for students as it was near student dormitories and the university’s central faculties. At this time, three new divisions were introduced:
- Audiovisual Division
- Document Production Division
- University Book Center
In 1993, a six-story second building covering 10,494 square meters was constructed with a 45 million baht budget and connected to Building 1. Later, in 1999, Khon Kaen University initiated the construction of a nine-story Information Center to serve as a hub for information technology services. The first three floors of this building were designated for library services. Construction began on September 23, 1999, with a budget of 121.817 million baht. The Information Center was completed in October 2007, and all library services and operations from Buildings 1 and 2 were relocated to the first, second, and third floors of the new Information Center.
On July 7, 2015, a royal decree was issued to establish official departments within Khon Kaen University under the Ministry of Education. As a result, the library was formally named the Office of Library and Learning Resources, which was equivalent to a faculty-level unit. According to Khon Kaen University Announcement No. 1764/2015, it was officially designated as the Khon Kaen University Library on July 25, 2015.
Vision
The Khon Kaen University Library aims to be a “Learning Center for All” in alignment with Khon Kaen University’s vision of becoming a world-leading research and development university.
Mission
- To provide inclusive and efficient access to knowledge, information resources, educational tools, and diverse academic services, serving as a center for education resources for all.
- To support excellence in education, research, and innovation by providing comprehensive information resources.
- To serve as a center for lifelong learning, catering to people of all ages to enhance their quality of life and foster collaboration through learning programs that contribute to a learning society.
Values
The core values of the Khon Kaen University Library are represented by SMART LIFE
- S: Social devotion and creativity – Thinking and Dedicating to the Community
- M: Management by fact – Manage Based on Real Data
- A: Achieving customer excellence – Fulfilling Expectations
- R: Responsibility & Good governance – Collaborating for Environmental Protection with a Commitment to Good Governance
- T: Technology & Innovation focus – Creating Technology and Innovation
- L: Lifelong learning – Committed to continuous education
- I: Inclusiveness – Creative Thinking for Everyone
- F: Friendliness – A Community of Kindness
- E: Excellent Service – Providing Excellence in Service
Cultures
- Inclusiveness
- Creative drive
- Community-oriented mindset
- Modern service
