Why do we need to reduce spending on Library acquisitions?
Despite campus efforts to hold the Libraries’ Information Access Budget harmless, the cost of information resources (books, journals, bibliographic databases, etc.) increases each year, necessitating a reduction in our purchases. In Spring 2008 the Libraries began planning for a reduction in spending based on our best estimates of projected inflation. The campus community was notified of this need in Fall 2008. Criteria, feedback opportunities and a decision-making process were established. Final decisions on reductions were made in September 2009.
- The need to reduce spending by $976,000 is solely in response to inflation and a flat budget. The Libraries’ acquisitions budget was not cut this year.
- Over the last five years the Libraries already have been forced to reduce acquisition expenditures by $400,000, in 2003/04, and by $820,000 in 2006/07, to cover inflation.
- The $976,000 reduction is approximately 11% of the $8.8 million Information Access Budget. These calculations assume the current level of funding for 2009/10 and 2010/11.
- In order to minimize the time and effort required to manage such a large reduction, we are working on a two-year cycle.
What is being cut? Summary and link to detailed lists. Links are here: http://www.library.arizona.edu/spendingReduction/
Filed under: Funding, Practice of Librarianship | Tagged: ahsl, Budgets
