Over the past few weeks, students and faculty have provided a lot of valuable feedback regarding library cuts. We appreciate your concerns, and we understand the important role that the Dal Libraries plays in your academic work.
To recap, this is the current situation: The acquisitions budget has sustained a 1% cut this year. In addition to the cut, external factors have put 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.
Yesterday, Dr. Carolyn Watters, Vice-President Academic and Provost of Dalhousie, announced the University will provide funds to cover the urgent shortfall this year and that they will work with the Library to review the acquisitions budget to ensure that it is sustainable over the longer term. This funding will help to ensure all course-related and student research-related library needs are being met.
Here is the memo:
MEMORANDUM
To: The Dalhousie University community
From: Carolyn Watters, Vice-President Academic and Provost
Date: October 28, 2013
Re: Dalhousie Library budget
I am writing to update you on the Dalhousie Library’s budget situation, of which there has been some significant discussion recently among both students and faculty.
The University Library has a $5.7 million acquisitions budget. The purchasing power of the acquisitions budget has been reduced this year due to a combination of factors: the decrease in the value of the Canadian dollar, inflationary costs and a one per cent budget cut. Because of this, the acquisitions budget has ended up in shortfall.
The University will provide funds to cover the urgent shortfall this year. At the same time, we will work with the Library to review the acquisitions budget to ensure that it is sustainable over the longer term.
Carolyn Watters
Vice-President Academic and Provost