User-centric: The Gateway will be designed, implemented and refined according to user needs to best support the teaching and research missions of the University.
Supports a diversity of users: The Gateway will accommodate a wide range of users in terms of expertise, subject area, type of information need, experience with this and other systems, and equipment used to access the system.
Individualized services in a confidential environment: The Gateway will recognize and treat each user individually to best meet individual information needs and promote individual efficiency in an environment created to preserve confidentiality. Supports the instruction goals of the Libraries: The Gateway will provide instruction tools to assist users and further the educational goals of the Libraries.
Supports the teaching and research missions of the University: The Gateway will allow integration of information resources with course resources and into class and research projects.
Iteratively evaluative: User feedback is critical to the success and continued refinement of the gateway.
Modularity and interoperability: The Gateway will be modular and interoperable in order to take advantage of and incorporate emerging technologies and new resources.
The UW is one of many electronic libraries: The Gateway will provide essential resources, regardless of the format or location.
Contributes to the organization and dissemination of knowledge: The Gateway will provide a method for dissemination of and access to digital collections and finding aids for non-digital collections unique to the UW.