Demonstrating the impact of acquisitions budget reductions on
institutional academic outcomes
From: Dana Hendrix <hendrixd_at_southwestern.edu>
Some (embarrassingly long) time ago I queried the list about a dilemma,
and I got a number of direct responses as well as a few requests to
share whatever I received; I've just realized I never did share those
responses, and they would still be relevant for many of us. Below is my
original question followed by all the responses I received. Thank you
all for your practical and thoughtful assistance.
==================
My original query:
Colleagues: How would you respond to a request to show the effect of a
Fall 2011 acquisitions budget cut on institutional academic outcomes?
(Or put another way: how do you prove the academic impact of the absence
of materials not purchased??)
I can compare expenditures to peer institutions, and will look at ILL
borrowing rates, but beyond that...? Thanks.
====
Response 1:
Our library (at the request of our university administration) is
currently compiling data on the average H-index of selected departments
as an indicator of their academic impact/standing/output. The H-index is
calculated in the SCOPUS (Elsevier) database based on the number of
times an author/article is cited compared to his ranking in the list of
authors/articles cited. The higher the H-index the better. Over time,
one can see the H-index trend for a given department. If the H-index
decreases, one can interpret the data as indicating that the academic
impact/output of a department has declined, which may be a result of
less availability/accessibility of library resources.
===
Response 2:
I have compiled many charts on this topic indicating how monies for
monographs would be impacted since we cover our electronic journals and
databases as well as standing orders first; remaining monies go towards
books. I am wondering if anyone has done more extensive work with this
type of thing. Perhaps showing how a lack of adequate resources could
impact accreditation of some programs?
===
Response 3:
Survey faculty to find out how much they spend from research or
departmental funds buying articles, etc., over the last year. It has
become so easy to buy downloads folks are doing it, some teachers I have
talked to spend thousands per year on article downloads because it is
fast and easy and they have access to funds.
Budget cuts create whack a mole scenarios for research faculty....the
research still gets done.
===
Response 4:
If you can get access to [LISTA] the EBSCOhost version of
http://www.ebscohost.com/academic/library-information-science-technology-abstracts-with-full-text
you’ll find some very relevant published articles on that exact topic.
Tough times, tough budgets all around…
===
Response 5:
Is there a way to tie a particular serial publication, an annual, from a
particular field, to a major? I imagine something in STEM, where
information changes so quickly, and where lack of access means terrible
results.
===
Response 6:
Not an easy one for sure, unless some metrics were already in place
relating the library directly to academic outcomes. In addition to the
ones you mention:
increased reference questions
increased content-related complaints
citation analysis showing that what is used by faculty is not owned
Did any of the university's metrics drop (research funding received,
enrollment, etc.) that you can try to correlate to?
===
Response 7:
If the folks asking for this are also open to anecdotal information, a
few quotes from faculty or students about how the lack of materials
affects them might round out your numbers.
===
Response 8:
Dana, one good thing to do is to compare ILL rates in a before/after
fashion. If you are able to compare it directly to departments, that can
also help. Such as, "ILL requests doubled for science departments.... "
Comparing collections of equivalent institutions might help too, if you
narrow it down by year of publication and in this case, you could
compare overlap between collections & how unique the collections are.
===
Response 9:
Hi, Dana. How about any of the following?
- increased ILL requests for journals you no longer subscribe to
- out of date book collection
- possible decrease in staff, either professional or student help
- decrease in service hours or services
- possible inability to attend conferences
- running out of library and office supplies (therefore, unable to
repair or process new library materials, make printouts, etc.)
- inability to answer reference questions with relevant, up to date
information
- complaints from faculty regarding materials not supporting needs
====================
Dana Hendrix, M.A.
Library Resources Department Director
Information Services Division
Smith Library Center Room 122
Southwestern University
Georgetown, Texas 78626
(512) 863-1241 Office
http://www.southwestern.edu/infoservices/departments/libraryresources/index.php
--
__
John P. Abbott, MS MSLS
Coordinator, Collection Management
University Library
Appalachian State University
ASU Box 32026
218 College Street
Boone, NC 28608
828-262-2821 (vox)
828-262-2773 (fax)
abbottJP_at_appstate.edu
Received on Sat Nov 01 2014 - 03:03:00 EDT