Library suffers in wake of budget cuts
By: Ryan Poe
Issue date: 10/31/08 Section: News
Empty shelves in The University library are a chilling reminder for some librarians of the recent budget cuts to state education funding. For students, the financial crisis will mean no new books and fewer subscriptions.
"Because of the cuts, the library will not be able to buy many 'critical books,'" said Sylverna Ford, dean of The University library. This blow, she said, will affect both students and faculty.
"It seems to me that when the library is not able to meet the needs of our students and faculty, it's like a double cut," Ford said. "It's a cut at the departmental level and in the library. It's like people are getting hit twice. I'm sure the budget cuts play a part in this. There's simply not enough money to go around. When there's less money, everyone suffers."
The library will spend 90 percent less on books this year than they traditionally do, said Ford. While the library usually spends between $200,000 and $300,000 for new materials, the last couple years, the library has relied primarily on private contributions. The past two years, they've collected about $30,000 for new books, only buying about 266 per year, Ford said.
But this year, the library doesn't have money for new books, Ford said. In July, the library paid its subscription fees for the upcoming year at a discounted price. That, along with the $158,000 cut in funding has dried up the library's budget.
The depleted budget will prove especially difficult for faculty members, said librarian Perveen Rustomfram.
"This year, we haven't had a book budget at all, she said. "It's going to be detrimental for recruitment and retention of new students and faculty. If faculty members cannot get the resources they need for their research, they may end up leaving because the research is necessary for their craft. We're already down to the bare bones with our periodicals. If we cut any more, it's really going to affect faculty needs."
Library assistant John Gwin stressed the need to have an updated library, which would allow faculty and students the tools they need to conduct their research.
"Because of the cuts, the library will not be able to buy many 'critical books,'" said Sylverna Ford, dean of The University library. This blow, she said, will affect both students and faculty.
"It seems to me that when the library is not able to meet the needs of our students and faculty, it's like a double cut," Ford said. "It's a cut at the departmental level and in the library. It's like people are getting hit twice. I'm sure the budget cuts play a part in this. There's simply not enough money to go around. When there's less money, everyone suffers."
The library will spend 90 percent less on books this year than they traditionally do, said Ford. While the library usually spends between $200,000 and $300,000 for new materials, the last couple years, the library has relied primarily on private contributions. The past two years, they've collected about $30,000 for new books, only buying about 266 per year, Ford said.
But this year, the library doesn't have money for new books, Ford said. In July, the library paid its subscription fees for the upcoming year at a discounted price. That, along with the $158,000 cut in funding has dried up the library's budget.
The depleted budget will prove especially difficult for faculty members, said librarian Perveen Rustomfram.
"This year, we haven't had a book budget at all, she said. "It's going to be detrimental for recruitment and retention of new students and faculty. If faculty members cannot get the resources they need for their research, they may end up leaving because the research is necessary for their craft. We're already down to the bare bones with our periodicals. If we cut any more, it's really going to affect faculty needs."
Library assistant John Gwin stressed the need to have an updated library, which would allow faculty and students the tools they need to conduct their research.