CDL: Funding acquisitions for new programs

Question re: Funding acquisitions for new programs, courses or faculty
From:Hazel Cameron <Hazel.Cameron_at_wwu.edu>

Our academic library has a limited budget to purchase materials and it 
is rapidly shrinking each year in light of inflation.  Yet we are 
faced with a rapid growth in new programs, courses and faculty.  We 
would like to know the following:

A)  What methods have academic libraries used to fund new programs, 
courses or faculty?  For example, do you obtain one time seed money 
from grant overhead; initial start up funds from departments or 
university administration; or other special library allocations for 
these purposes and if so how are these allocated? Do new professors 
receive collection development funds from departments or the 
administration when they are hired? Can or do new professors negotiate 
for library funds in their contracts? Do libraries receive part of 
university endowments that are allocated specifically to this purpose? 
Is the funding one time or ongoing?  Are there joint purchases between 
the library and departments, or library and university?  We are 
looking for any other suggestions and whether any of those mentioned 
have operated in your environment.  Which of them have been successful?

B)  What policies are in effect to ensure that the library receives 
one time or continuing funding for new courses, new programs and new 
faculty?  Are there any policies for library funding through 
curriculum committees?  Has a Faculty Senate, Library Committee or 
other administrative body written such policies?  How are these 
policies enforced and what do these policies state?

C) If your library does get outside funding for new faculty, programs 
and policies, how are allocations determined? Are the allocations tied 
to initial or ongoing registration in a new course or some other 
formula?  Is the amount of funding decided by the library, the 
department, the university or a committee made up of various players?



Hazel Cameron
Librarian, College of Business and Economics
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA
98225