Resolution on Support of the Libraries

Whereas, Rutgers University Library collections budget has remained essentially static over the last ten years and has continued to decrease as a percentage of total university expenditures from 1.05% in 1988-89 to 0.74% in 1997-98; and

Whereas, membership ranking of the Rutgers University Library for volumes added (books and bound serials) among the Association for Research Libraries (ARL) has decreased continuously from 25th in 1990 to 41st in 1998, and Rutgers New Brunswick library alone ranked at about 56th in 1998; and

Whereas, median expenditures for library collections at 33 public AAU universities in 1996-97 was $272/student compared to $175/student at Rutgers University; and

Whereas, the cost for serials at Rutgers University has increased annually by at least 10% over the past decade, driven primarily by the cost of science serials from commercial publishers, and more recently by the need to initiate electronic on-line subscriptions at even greater cost; and

Whereas, ready access to electronic resources, which require more fixed-cost commitments, is essential for scholarly activity at all levels of the university community; and

Whereas, cancellations of serial subscriptions, declines in book acquisitions, and the slow implementation of on-line resources compromise scholarship and teaching at all levels, including undergraduate teaching on campuses and at remote sites; and

Whereas, the current commitment of university resources to maintain the Libraries' collections is inconsistent with the long-term strategic plan to move Rutgers University into the top decile of AAU universities by 2010; and

Whereas, the critical state of the university library collections raises concerns by faculty on the New Brunswick, Newark (the faculty of which filed a formal resolution expressing alarm in 1996) and Camden Campuses;

Therefore, be it resolved that:

1. The University reallocate financial resources and appeal directly to the State government for additional resources to allow Rutgers University Library to regain a competitive standing with comparable institutions.

2. Funding be secured to accelerate the rate of development of, and access to, on-line electronic resources, as described in the Library's long-range plan, the Digital Library Initiative.

3. External fund raising for library collections be a priority in the University Capital Campaign, in order to expand the current library endowment.

4. A plan be developed, and necessary financial resources be dedicated, to place the Library's collections budget at least at the median of public AAU universities in the dollars expended per student by the year 2003 and in the upper 10% of public AAU universities by 2010, consistent with University's strategic plan.  Based on current projections, this would require about a 1.2 million per year increase to the permanent base budget in each of the next three years, followed by annual increases to the permanent base budget of 8.5% for the following seven years.