<br/>The conservative financial approach the university implemented this year has extended to Collins Library. The conservative financial approach the university implemented this year has extended to Collins Library. The conservative financial approach the university implemented this year has extended to Collins Library.
“We’ve tried to maintain those services that have an impact on students,” Director of Library Services Kay Bradt said. “We can work to get students the resources they need.”
While cuts to the library’s budget began last year, cuts to this year’s budget are substantially greater. Since 2008’s budget of $313,420 the total budget has been reduced to $184,820, almost half the amount of the budget a few years ago.
Decisions on what should be cut from the budget were made by prioritizing which resources were most beneficial to students and protecting those assets.
While the money the library spends on databases and journals has been reduced, some sections of the budget have been completely removed. Those areas that were removed from the budget include travel, equipment and maintenance and general funds for books and videos.
Even though resources may be decreasing each year, library personnel are working to make sure students have the means to complete their research.
Bradt said an overlap study was done to find out what information overlapped in different databases, as well as which databases were used the least. In the end, only three were removed from the budget. Also, even though the library may not be purchasing new books this year, books can be brought in through interlibrary loan.
“I’m sure they are making every effort to keep the budget down,” Alisa Rotman, sophomore, said. “It just may not be feasible at this time with all the changes in the economy.”
Although Bradt is unsure of the future of the library’s budget, she said it mainly depends on the economy of the university as a whole. The library will reevaluate the budget between November and January.
“We will request that we receive a budget that will restore books,” Bradt said.
The university’s revenue projection, which is based on enrollment and tuition numbers, will determine the amount of money the library is given.
“I can see the library being a high priority because it serves all of our campuses,” Budget Director Darla Prather said.
Bradt said she hopes students do not feel like there is nothing going on in the library, because the staff is working to do exciting things that will make the library user-friendly for students without spending money.<br/>&#160;