The Library's Collection Budget is a component of the overall Library budget.  Though there are several funding sources, the predominant source for both new and ongoing purchases comes from the campus-allocated Library Budget.  With the exception of a few instances in the last few years, this overall budget has seen decreases in funding.  The budget cuts of the past three years have been particularly acute, forcing the significant collections underway both at Santa Cruz and nationwide.

The National Context

Libraries everywhere are suffering, especially in this period of worldwide economic downturn. The extremity of the situation is local, UC-wide, and worldwide. Academic and research libraries are suffering from the double blow of reduced institutional support and rising publisher pricing, particularly in the journal market.

Libraries are attempting to proactively address the collections budget challenge in a variety of ways beyond simple reduction of expenditures:

• University Librarian Ginny Steel's letter to Deans and Department Chairs (PDF)
• UC's open letter to Vendors and Content Providers (PDF) asking them to cap or reduce prices to libraries
• Association of Research Libraries's ARL Statement to Scholarly Publishers on the Global Economic Crisis (PDF)

 The Local Context

The Library is utilizing several strategies to shape and balance the reductions ahead.  These strategies are tied to existing funding sources and expenditure patterns, as well as to Library's Strategic Plan.  The timeframe to complete the reductions and align the Library's expenditures with the annual campus allocation is expected to take approximately two years.