[original post followed by responses.]
Subject: Budget Allocation Formulas for CD in Academic Libraries
From: Jspad91_at_aol.com
Greetings All,
I am trying to find sample formulas for allocating collection
development budgets in academic libraries. How do you determine
how much gets allocated per department, or do you? Any insights
on this topic will be greatly appreciated.
Responses.
==#5==
From: Steven Harris <SteHar_at_ngw.lib.usu.edu>
A question related to allocation formulae (although in a more
depressing vein): do any of you use a formula to determine the way
journal cancellations are distributed across disciplines? Some
approaches that come to mind:
1. The same percentage for every discipline
2. Cancel at the same percentage as journal inflation for that
discipline
3. Factor in the importance of the discipline on campus (research
productivity, grant funding, student FTE, citation analysis, ??)
4. Some formula that would account for all of these
I'd be interested in hearing what others are doing.
Steven R. Harris
Collection Development Librarian
Utah State University
(435) 797-3861
==#6==
From: Christine Roysdon <cmr0_at_Lehigh.EDU>
We have talked about this type of project, but never undertaken it. I
guess my question is -- what is the problem that you are trying to
solve with this project? Is it to address clear inequities or to
locate resources for new programs? To cut a journals budget that is
squeezing out the books? Just an exercise to see whether you can
justify current expenditures? I am curious, thanks.
==#7==
Will the formula be used in a public process? Within common sense,
will the formula be the primary arbitrator of the budget?
If yes, to either: Does your library publicize all departmental
allocation amounts? Does the Provost buy in and support the formula
approach? Will you involve faculty statisticians, mathematicans, or
economists in the development of the formula? Will a library advisory
board made up of faculty, e.g., faculty senate library committee,
sign-off on the formula? Be careful of cooking up a logical formula,
then you or your director go to the faculty with it, and then having a
quantitatively adept member of the faculty pick you apart down to
your bleached bones based on your method. This particularly to be
avoided in a public forum. Grow this process slowly over a couple
years, get development help, get buy in at the top, know it cold, keep
your vita up-to-date.
Received on Thu Jan 13 2005 - 04:09:32 EST