2009 Library Collections Review

Proposed subscription cancellations

As an outcome of the process described below, a proposed list of subscription cancellations has been compiled and posted to the web for review.

Collection budget reduction

The Library spends approximately $3million per year on monographs and $5 million on serials, 90% in US$. There has been significant benefit achieved through consortial negotiation and package purchases over the past ten years. No deficit has been carried forward from 08/09 thanks to university administration support.

The Library is facing a significant collection budget shortfall for 09/10. The reasons for the cut are complex: the decline in Canadian dollar,on average, from 1.05 in 07/08 to 1.16 anticipated in 09/10; an actual cut of $393k; and annual serials increases, usually around 6%, independent of the $$ fluctuation. Thus there is an estimated shortfall of $1.58 million. Furthermore, the Library has multiyear commitments of $1.4 million. We can anticipate further cuts in 2010/11.

The draft collection budget is modeled on a 20/25% reduction on departmental and general lines, based on last year's expenditures but taking into account mitigating circumstances (new programming etc.).

Process

An Advisory Committee has been formed with representatives from each of the faculties as well as undergraduate and graduate students.

• Lynn Copeland, University Librarian and Dean of Library Services (Chair)
• Kitty Corbett, Health Sciences
• Glenn Chapman, Applied Science
• Natalie Gick, Library Collections
• Carla Graebner, Liaison Librarian
• Kevin Harding, Student
• Rekha Krishnan, Business Administration
• Daniel Leznoff, Science
• Laura Marks, Communication, Art and Technology
• David Patterson, Education
• Richard Schwindt, Arts and Social Sciences
• Stephen Steele, Arts and Social Sciences
• Barbara Wepruk, Environment
• Sandra Wong, Liaison Librarian

‘Principles’ for the cutback have been reviewed by the Senate Library Committee and the Advisory Committee. Data such as cost per use are being gathered; the relative cost of cancelling certain ‘packages’ and buying individual titles and relying on Interlibrary has been calculated; and spending within ‘general’ and discipline specific funds is being reviewed.

Initial savings of about 10% on the approval book portion of the budgets have been achieved by moving to paperback preferred approval books.  This does not apply to materials purchased as a direct request.  The savings can be used to cover part of the budget reduction or reallocated to other lines within the departmental budget.

Journal lists are being reviewed for duplicate subscriptions, low-use titles and titles no longer core to research and teaching.  Journal indexes are being reviewed for usage, relevance and overlap.

Liaison librarians and Library Departmental Representatives are providing information and discussing specific plans with individual faculty.  Because of the lead time in journal cancellations, final decisions must be made by the end of July 2009, allowing until September 4 for review by all faculty for possible adjustments.

General comments

In the broader  picture, we are not alone. Large US University libraries are also hard hit because of the loss in endowment income – a far larger source of their collection  funding than ours. The International Consortium of Library Consortia has issued a call to publishers to recognize the situation and ameliorate price increases (supported by CRKN etc.) Some minor effect has been detected (eg a recent CRKN package reduced from 12/12/12% increase proposed to 5/3/3% after libraries refused agreement and, just recently, announcements by the AMS and OECD that they will hold their prices fixed).

The Library continues to discuss possibilities with the University Administration for ameliorating this situation but everyone is hurting. We are also following up with University Advancement about possible fundraising opportunities. We are making every effort to be as equitable as possible in this difficult circumstance.

If you have concerns about the process please contact me.

Chuck Eckman

University Librarian and Dean of Library Services

ceckman@sfu.ca 

778.782.3265