Bizzell Memorial Library is the largest library in the state of Oklahoma, according to the OU Libraries website, but recent budget cuts may mean fewer staff and student resources.
University Libraries’ budget is operating with a 5-percent cut for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, or a $452,000 decrease, as a result of universitywide budget cuts, also of 5 percent, according to Daily archives.
OU Libraries spokeswoman Sarah Robbins said the cuts mean frozen job positions, but they do not yet affect those holding jobs.
“At this point, we have been fortunate not to have a reduction in force beyond natural attrition,” Robbins said.
Some students, such as University College freshman Matt Ravis, are concerned that a budget cut will affect the multitude of resources the library has to offer.
“Any budget cut to such a place of knowledge is very detrimental to the distribution of the knowledge contained by it,” Ravis said.
Robbins said the impact on students and faculty is inevitable, but the library is trying to minimize the burden.
“Students and faculty should still have access to the resources they need to complete their research activities. If we do not own a needed resource, most resources can be requested through interlibrary loan,” Robbins said.
Senior Vice President and Provost Nancy Mergler also mentioned the loan system, a program in which libraries across the nation share books on their shelves, as an option for students looking for texts the library cannot afford to obtain right now.
OU Libraries has $25 million in various OU Foundation accounts, Mergler said. Three-fourths of those accounts deal with acquisitions — one of the areas hit hardest by budget cuts, with about $300,000 lost from education and general acquisitions.
Mergler said revenue for OU Libraries’ acquisitions come from the library excellence fee — $11 per credit hour.
While increased attendance would seem to generate more revenue, Mergler said the increase has a minimal effect because materials are so costly, with prices incresing 8 to 12 percent a year.
For the 2012 fiscal year, acquisitions have decreased by 1.8 percent.
In response, Mergler said the university is considering changes to future acquisitions for OU Libraries.
“One interesting pilot project our library is involved in, and many others as well, is rethinking how they acquire material. It used to be when everybody was [thinking about acquiring material], you acquire in print,” Mergler said.
However, budgets cuts are limiting the number of new books acquired, meaning students and faculty must wait for the book to be loaned.
“You don’t want to wait three weeks while a book is mailed from the Harvard Library — everybody wants the important books being published,” Mergler said.
But despite the required patience, minimizing the number of books a university buys outright could save money.
“What happens if you collect as you go? Third time something is requested you purchase it — what would happen?” Mergler asked. “You wait until [students and faculty] ask for it. What happens over the long haul would be a much more eclectic hodgepodge of stuff you actually have access to, but it’s the stuff you actually want.”
The financial constraints may hamper some resources, but Mergler said increased state revenue this year could help resolve this problem.
==Cutline==
Sarah Catlett, German studies senior, and Brian Ward, European studies junior, study Oct. 12, 2011, in Bizzell Memorial Library. (Darian Harmon/The Daily)
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concerned_student 7 months, 2 weeks ago
Really? The library is losing $300,000 in acquisitions and the only comments regarding this article are how the library smells and has too many employees?
I pay plenty in tuition, thanks, and certainly enough to keep a library going the university supposedly "prides" itself on. I personally hope the library's budget gets back on track quickly.
delayed 7 months, 2 weeks ago
For all the students complaining about the possible cutback in new book purchases. Let me point a few things out.
The multitude of online databases and subscriptions that OU pays for contains arguably much more research and knowledge than the Bizell library could even stuff in the stacks.
Every time I have been in the library, I see students studying. Great! Fantastic! But they are on their laptops, and besides the required textbooks, I rarely see books from the Library except for those on reserve. I think the caption photo here sums up my point nicely.
I am not trying to diminish the importance of a physical library, but times change and the majority of our modern research, intellectual endeavors, and various literature are being transmitted in digital form, and at a somewhat lower cost, which I believe the OU library system has accommodated for and should continue into the future.
Those points being said, universities are hemorrhaging money nationwide. Budget cuts have to happen somewhere--money doesn't just fly grow on trees people. Sure, we all pay tuition, fees, etc. But OU is still one of the cheapest colleges in America and no one seems to appreciate the value that we receive as students here. You want a fully funded library with thousands of books that are checked out one or two times over their useful lifetime? Fine, spend $20-50,000 a year on tuition. But don't complain about OU cutting back 5% on the budget when you are paying under $10k a year for tuition, and most likely subsidized by some sort of scholarship. It sucks, sure, but I think OU is doing a very good job for the most part dealing with financial shortfalls. .
Corn_Head 7 months, 2 weeks ago
Who cares...the library smells like a wet dog fart.
Corn_Head 7 months, 2 weeks ago
So defensive. Must be written by one of the many unnecessary employees at Blazzel.
delayed 7 months, 2 weeks ago
While I hate to agree with someone who's olfactory vocabulary of old books is limited to that of "wet dog fart", I would agree that there are a few too many employees at the library. However, most are student employees making just above minimum wage, and I'd venture to say a lot of their wages go right back to OU.
Additionally, I am not a Bizzell library employee by any means. If you have any other constructive comments to share Corn_Head, feel free. I would love to see someone else's point of view.
wiggin 7 months, 2 weeks ago
WHAT A JOKE
THIS IS A UNIVERSITY
CUT FOOTBALL FUNDING PAY OU WORKERS A LIVING WAGE BUY BOOKS
astudent 7 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm confused I thought this was a university
Sesame 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I dont care if it smells like s*** since I rarely have to go there, but the staff are not helpful at all. They are either students who know nothing or someone who sounds very mean to you. I can hear them laughing about my problem and talking about me while I was waiting on the phone (hello, I CAN hear you!), like I lied to them or something.
If you ever ever have to borrow a book there, always ask for the reciept and hold on to it. The system sucks and they might lose your books then make you pay for it. The drop boxes are useless and you shouldnt trust them.
Properly they will have every book you need on the web site, but when you come to check them out it will not be at the bookselves, at all. After 3 months and I havent seen them updated yet, so its not true that they have the most books blad blad blad. Whats the point of having too many books and cant able to control them?
Im talking about the Main library, the other ones I think are much nicer, no smell and more helpful staff. I never had any problem with any other libraries like Metropolitan (yes, they are big as well, and I do borrow books on a regular basic), except this one. So I would say I am truly happy if they cut the budget off and give the students discount on their tuition instead.