The University Library Collections Librarians have put together this site to inform the campus about the current state of the collections budget, describe the history of the library's collections cuts, and outline how we plan to cope with the radically reduced allocations. As new decisions are made, we will post information here. Please send comments, questions or concerns to your librarian.
Overall, the library's collection budget has been reduced by 35% since FY 2009/2010 AND the library's total budget has been reduced by 31% in the same time period.
Fiscal Year 2009/2010 - $830,000 permanent reduction of its base $4,389,460 budget
Fiscal Year 2011/2012 - $729,267 permanent reduction of its base $3,559,460 budget
| Fiscal Year | *Permanent Collection Allocation |
|---|---|
| 2008/2009 | $4,389,460 |
| 2009/2010 | $3,559,460 |
| 2010/2011 | $3,559,460 |
| 2011/2012 | $2,830,190 |
| Fiscal Year | Average Cost in U.S. | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2000/2001 | $437.57 |
Library Journal (1976); April 15 2001, Vol. 126 Issue 7, p53-58, 6p) |
| 2010/2011 | $992.00 |
Library Journal (1976); April 15 2010, Vol. 135 Issue 7, p36-40, 5p) |
*Misconception: CDL subscriptions are free
*Fact: CDL subscriptions cost UCSC significant amounts of money.
A prevailing misconception regarding the California Digital Library is that the resources we license through CDL are free to the campus. In fact, they are not. The CDL negotiates and licenses some of our largest database and journal subscriptions. While the CDL does sometimes contribute funding, every campus pays a cost share in the purchase. Costs for materials licensed and purchased through the CDL are not budget neutral. In fact, like all other costs related to the collections budget, they rise annually. The annual inflation rate is anywhere from 3% to 7% per licensed resource.
This means that, without the addition of new permanent funds, we need to make cuts somewhere in our collection budget every fiscal year - even in years when the collections budget is not reduced. In effect, every year is a budget cut year for the collections budget unless new funds are received that cover the inflationary increases. In years when we do not receive additional funding cuts, we are able to manage this loss of spending power through a combination of natural attrition of subscriptions (some number of publications cease annually), uneven publication output and therefore subscription payments, fluctuations in the value of the dollar (if they are in our favor), and through the use of one time funds to temporarily carry us through. When we receive large reductions on top of the annual increases to our expenses, our options are severely limited. This is the situation we are in now.
*Misconception: The Library is an Academic Unit and as such was spared the large cuts the academic support divisions received
*Fact: The library is considered an academic support division and it was not spared large cuts.
The library received two large cuts to its permanent collection budget over the past three years. The University Library's Operating Budget absorbed a permanent cut of 27% to its base budget. Overall, the University Library's total budget (operations & collections) has been reduced by 31%
*Misconception: Google Scholar provides free access to the research articles I need.
*Fact: The UCSC Library pays for the resources researchers link to through Google Scholar.
The University Library, like many libraries, allows Google Scholar to include our database and electronic holdings in their search results. As long as you are an affiliated faculty, staff, or student of UCSC, any UCSC owned or licensed content is available to you through Google Scholar. Once you step off campus (unless you log into the Off Campus Access Server), or if you leave the University, the content UCSC licenses will become available to you only for a fee. And, when we cancel subscriptions, access to those cancelled titles through Google Scholar becomes for-fee, too.
*Misconception: I never use the library.
*Fact: If you have ever read a journal article through Google Scholar, accessed items from course reserves online, or found yourself reading an electronic book, you have used the library.
The UCSC Library has one of the highest circulation counts in the UC system. In addition to our campus members' prodigious use of online resources, we have a very active print user community.
Impacts of the 35% permanent cut over three years:
As in 2009/2010, the CDL is working with the campuses to help control our subscription costs, particularly in light of the systemwide budget challenges. As part of this process CDL is working with subject librarians across UC to refine systemwide metrics to help ensure that our limited resources are allocated most effectively and with the greatest benefit to our user communities.