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
Received on Tue Apr 03 2007 - 01:35:17 EDT