[Original post, then the responses. JA]
Budget allocation formulas
From: "Gibbons, Dennis" <d.gibbons_at_tcu.edu>
I have the task of revising our materials budget allocation formula. We used an old
formula to allocate the monographs budget, but for the past few years we have not
recalculated the allocations. Now the dean wants a formula to calculate
allocations for
all types of materials: monographs, serials, electronic resources.
My questions:
1. Does your library use a budget allocation formula?
2. If so, do you apply the formula to only monographs?
Thanks,
Dennis
Dennis Gibbons
Collection Development Librarian
Texas Christian University Phone: 817-257-7312
TCU Box 298400 Fax: 817-257-7282
Fort Worth, TX 76129 E-mail: d.gibbons_at_tcu.edu
==#1==
>From "Mercer, John A." <john.mercer_at_fsmail.pfeiffer.edu>
Subject RE: Budget allocation formulas?
Dennis,
We also use an old formula, which I have copied and pasted below,
but are looking at updating that formula for the next school year. Currently it
doesn't take into consideration the average cost of books in a particular
subject area and I'm sure there are other factors that our formula does not take
into consideration either. The formula is only applied to monographs.
LIBRARY BOOK BUDGET ALLOCATION FORMULA
UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE
Using the formula listed below, a designated portion of the Library book budget
is allocated to academic departments in the undergraduate college for the
purchase of books for the Library. Departmental faculty makes the selections
which are purchased by the Library.
Divide equally among the schools 50% of the total departmental book budget as a
basic allotment.
Assign the remaining 50% of the total departmental book budget to the
schools by the following point system:
One point for every ten students enrolled in classes in the school.
One point per credit hour of courses taught by members of the
school.
One point for each major at the junior and senior level in the
school.
Total points by school - Calculate each school's percent of the total.
Multiply the amount of money in the fund by the percent to obtain each
school's share.
Calculate each department's percent of the school's share.
John A. Mercer, Jr., M.L.I.S.
Acquisitions/Collections Development Librarian
G.A. Pfeiffer Library
Pfeiffer University
(704) 463-3352
john.mercer_at_fsmail.pfeiffer.edu
==#2==
>From "Kohn, Karen" <kohnk_at_arcadia.edu>
Subject RE: Budget allocation formulas?
We have a formula. For historical reasons, we use it only for
monographs. The reason is that our serials and database budgets are one
big budget and are not allocated by department. Since these are
subscription budgets, it would be hard to change them as the money is
already encumbered.
For the monographs budget, this is the first year I made a formula. I
based it on enrollment (credit hours of enrollment in the department),
average price of books in the field (from Blackwell's) and amount spent
last year. Some departments underspend, and at the end of the year we
allow other departments to overspend, using the money from the
underspending departments. So the formula creates a partial
use-it-or-lose-it situation.
Tell me if you want to see the exact formula. As I said, this is the
first year I used it, but I spent quite awhile developing the formula,
so I am happy with it.
Karen Kohn
Collection Development Manager
Landman Library
Arcadia University
450 S. Easton Road
Glenside, PA 19038
ph: 215-572-8528
fax: 215-572-0240
==#3==
>From Kathleen Stacey <kstacey_at_hawaii.edu>
Subject RE: Budget allocation formulas?
We created a budget allocation formula for the first time two years ago. We
used the formula from this article pretty much exactly as described:
Donlan, R. (2006). How much does biology really need, anyway?: Determining
library budget allocations. Library Issues, 26(6), 1-4.
It's worked very well, so far. This summer we'll be evaluating how it went
and perhaps tweaking it a bit.
Kathleen
Kathleen M. Stacey
Head of Technical Services, Edwin H. Mookini Library
University of Hawaii at Hilo
808/933-8613
Received on Sun Feb 21 2010 - 03:04:27 EST