Spaces, Relocation, and Subject Synergies When A

Subject Library Closes

Jill Powell, jillpowell@cornell.eduCornell University

ASEE National Conference, Louisville, June 22, 2010

Spaces, Relocation, and Subject Synergies When A Subject Libraryies Closes

Change

Jill Powell, jillpowell@cornell.eduCornell University

ASEE National Conference, Louisville, June 22, 2010

OutlineWhy changes to subject libraries?Which ones? Process

Why?Financial crisis 2008Lower endowment payouts (14%)High prices for serials causes underfunding

for other needed resourcesDrop in ARL rankings for collectionsLibrary Budget reductions – $1.7 million year

1; $1.1 million year 2Strategic Plan focused on collections &

selectorsProvost issued directives for committees

Slide from Leah Solla, Chemistry Librarian, Cornell University, 2009

Which Libraries?Those with most online collectionsThose not required by accreditationThose browsed/used the least in printThose likely to fall together in a clusterThose with aging buildings

Cornell University LibrariesAfricana LawAnnex Management

Agriculture & Life Sciences (Mann)

Mathematics

Entomology Medical

Engineering Music

Fine Arts Olin/Kroch/Uris

Geneva Experiment Station

Ornithology

Hotel Physical Sciences

Industrial & Labor Relations

Veterinary

Action Generating Revenue, Space100,000

Duplicate Books in Social Sciences and Humanities Sold to Tsinghua University, China for $895,000

Actions Generating Revenue or Saving MoneyAmazon print on demand - $100,000Closing subject libraries allow for some

funding to go back to materials budget ArXiv –financial support from 55 institutionsCollaboration with Columbia – sharing

selector for Slavic studies

ProcessCommittee of stakeholders (faculty, students,

librarians) to draft recommendations.Library Board, Deans, University Librarian,

Provost make decisionCommunication and ResponseSchedule for implementation

Implementation – Engineering LibraryLibrarians and services (collection development,

reference, instruction, web presence) to remainStudy hall/computer lab to remain open 24/7Run circulation reports – where to distribute

collectionReserves and reference collections

Convert as many journals to online as possibleDisplay/discardMembership ID loginPrint for small number; rest electronic

How to Distribute Books…

eBooks & Reference Collection

Publisher packagesSpringerKnovel, Morgan & ClaypoolSafari Books; Books24x7

Patron/User driven PlanE-book records from profiled publishers loaded

into library catalog2nd session of use past TOC purchases the bookSome publishers delay electronic version

Patron Driven eBook from Catalog

Website Enhancements

Customized Searching Features

Librarians’ Changing Role in New Environment

•Collection Management•Reference•Instruction•Outreach

Staubbach Falls, Switzerland, www.icteachers.co.uk

“Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.” - Robert C. Gallagher

Questions?Jill Powell,

jillpowell@cornell.eduCornell University