ACQNET: RE - What percent should we budget for books? (1 reply)

Date:  Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:15:52 -0500
From: Anthony Greiner <anthony.greiner_at_pcc.edu>
Subject: RE - What percent should we budget for books?

There were a couple of studies in recent years saying that if a print
reference collection isn't dead, it is on life-support. That has certainly
been the case at my library, Portland Community College, where we have
drastically reduced our purchases of print reference. I can send you those
citations if you want. You should know too that ebook use is erratic-- some
titles get a ton of use, many none, and even within a discipline it seems to
depend on the title.

However, print circulating titles are doing a little better than previous
years, possibly because we are paying more attention to buying materials
appropriate for Community College students. This will be a long process
however, as improved use of little use is still little use. I don't want to
give up on circulating print books however, until we know it is because the
students no longer will use them, not because we've been buying the wrong
books.

As far as budget is concerned, we spend about 50% on books and videos, 50%
on serials and databases (almost all serials are taken electronically.)  I
think that is comparatively high on the book side. 


Tony Greiner
PCC Library


-----Original Message-----

Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:19:25 -0500
From: Fran Rosen (Ferris State U.) <FrancesRosen_at_ferris.edu>
Subject: What percent should we budget for books?

Hi,

We're working on a budget proposal and we're wondering what percentage 
we should use for books.  This would not include print Standing Orders, 
and it would include single-purchase ebooks.  We're not a research 
library so we're thinking we'd be on the low end.

I'd appreciate learning both what other libraries budget for books & 
what other librariansthink is the usual percentage.

Thanks,
Fran

Fran Rosen
Collection Development and Acquisitions Librarian
FLITE: Ferris Library for Information, Technology, & Education
Ferris State University
1010 Campus Drive
Big Rapids MI  49307
Phone: 231-591-3043


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