There has been some misunderstanding of our initial attempts to communicate the recent cuts to the library budget, which has resulted in the misperception that the Dal Libraries will be not be purchasing any new materials this year.

To be clear – in spite of the planned 1% cut to the acquisitions budget we plan to spend $5,741,510 on new acquisitions this year and we will continue to invest in our collection next year. It is true that some lines in the acquisitions budget have already been spent out for this year, but that is because we have already purchased access to 84,000 e-journals, approximately 1,000 print and e-books, and more than 50 materials in other formats, such as DVDs, maps, etc.

For context, this year, a cut of 3.5% was made to all departments at Dalhousie, including the Dal Libraries. The cuts made are reflective of our reduced provincial governmental funding. In addition to the 3.5% cut to the Dal Libraries’ operating budget, there was a 1% cut made to the acquisitions budget, a budget that had been protected from cuts in the past. Students and faculty are understandably concerned about the scope of the cuts to the acquisitions budget, and we appreciate their concern.

In addition to the 1% cut, there are some external factors putting additional pressures on the acquisitions budget, making the cut feel larger. The cost of electronic resources is inflating at a rate of 4-8% annually and many of the resources are purchased in American funds, resulting in an unfavourable exchange rate on the US dollar. A number of database and e-journal subscriptions had to be cancelled as a result of these factors.

It is reassuring to know that the library has many supporters across Dalhousie and we will continue to serve your academic needs. We are committed to providing the very best library service through our collections, spaces, technology, and personnel.