Founded in 1732 as an "academy of the state," the University of Guanajuato has undergone three centuries of institutional transformation and has a student body of nearly 20,000 students. By placing the values of truth, knowledge, and human decency at the core of its mission statement, the University commits itself to promoting the educational, social, and cultural well-being of its students and surrounding community. To enhance academic progress, the University of Guanajuato boasts a newly developed automated library system, based in the main Biblioteca de la Unidad Belén. Other libraries in the Colleges of Philosophy, Letters, and History; the College of Mines; College of Chemistry ; and the Humanities Research department provide easy access for students who wish to obtain a wide variety of specialized material. Beyond the classroom, the University makes efforts to connect its students to the broader world of art, music, literature, and film. In the annual university - sponsored Festival Cervantino, people from all over the world come to view international works of art, attend concerts by famous musicians, and view insightful documentaries. Plays, concerts, movies, parades, and dance festivals also occur year-round.