Mission, Vision, Guiding Principles and Governance


Mission Statement

To provide our clients with access to and assistance in finding the practical business information they need to succeed. Download the full Hill Library Mission/Definitions document.

Vision Statement

James J. Hill considered reliable, timely information to be key to his business success, and he founded his library to provide others a similar foundation on which to build their own empires. Nearly a hundred years later, the library that bears his name stands for world-class business information and a commitment to providing access to all.

Today, information abounds. The challenge lies in how to access and assess it. The Hill Library advances this process by offering a more select and authoritative collection of resources than are typically available, and by assisting information seekers.

James J. Hill understood that knowledge is not gathered, it is mined. Our objective is to honor our founder's legacy by ensuring that our clients have the means to follow James J. Hill's advice to "get knowledge and understanding" in order to craft informed strategies and make better decisions for their businesses and communities. From students, entrepreneurs and single practitioner consultants to governmental, educational, and nonprofit institutions, our users are as diverse as the information they access.

The Hill Library specializes in serving the information needs of entrepreneurs and small business, but also serves a broad community of users including mid-size and large businesses, students, single practitioner consultants, government employees, individuals, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations.

Membership fees, service revenue, product sales, and donations help the Hill Library realize its goal of providing equal access to business information for all communities, regardless of income, age, race, religion, disability, or educational background. Fees and donations partially cover the Hill Library's operational expenses while underwriting programs and services targeted to students, non-profit organizations and other communities.

Guiding Principles

  • We will honor the entrepreneurial legacy of our founder and promote the time-honored ability to create success through using better information.
  • We will level the playing field so that everyone, regardless of means, has the opportunity to access the Hill Library's resources and expertise.
  • We will provide exceptional service and educate our clients on the value of information, as well as the most effective means to acquire business information.
  • We will leverage our assets, as well as our relationships with other organizations, to provide effective and innovative ways for clients to access our resources through the use of proven technologies.
  • We will build an organization that attracts and retains exceptional people.
  • We will properly manage our endowment to reach the broadest possible audience while ensuring that we maintain our long-term financial viability.

Governance

Preserving the tradition of the James J. Hill Reference Library while advancing into the digital age is the responsibility of the Library's Board of Directors. These business, foundation, and academic leaders combine their talents and expertise to further the Library's charitable mission.


Board of Directors

Kevin Spreng, Chair
Dan Young, Vice Chair
Rick Ehrman, Treasurer
James Slade, Secretary
Jeremy Kalin
Thom Middlebrook
Patrick O'Neill, Jr.
Julie Perrus

Chairs Emeritus:
Bruce Bomier
Fran Coyne
Peter Gilbertson
Frank Green
Greg Heinemann
Gerald Meigs
Roger Meyer

View bios for the current board members