Research Information Network - Press release

18 March 2010

 

Challenges for academic libraries in difficult economic times

A new guide <http://www.rin.ac.uk/challenges-for-libraries>  from the
Research Information Network focuses on how academic librarians are
experiencing and responding to financial cuts in the current economic
climate.  

 

Based upon data gathered in the UK and internationally, and focus groups
with senior librarians during late 2009, the guide looks at the
financial position of libraries, their strategies for dealing with
challenging economic circumstances, and the value of libraries.

 

After a decade of growth in budgets and services, academic librarians
now expect a sustained period of cuts over the next three to five years.
The scale of these cuts means librarians are having to reconsider the
kinds and levels of service they can provide in support of their
universities missions.  

 

This guide shows how librarians are responding to the issues of
balancing expenditure between information resources and staffing and how
they plan to sustain levels of service, as well as developing new
services to meet new needs. It demonstrates that library directors need
the support of senior managers across the higher education sector, as
well as from publishers and other information providers, to help address
the challenges, as well as the opportunities, faced.

 

Michael Jubb, Director of RIN, said:

"Libraries have for long played a central role in the lives of
universities, in supporting learning, teaching and research. Like the
rest of the higher education sector, they are now facing a renewed and
intensified period of financial stringency. This guide outlines the key
issues that library directors must address, in cooperation with senior
managers in the university and information sectors".

 

Toby Bainton, SCONUL Secretary, said:
"Higher education institutions in the UK are making some difficult
decisions. In planning for financial adversity it's important for senior
managers to recognise how essential libraries are to institutional
goals. 
 
"The UK higher education sector enjoys global renown and its steadily
improving library services have been at the heart of its growth and
development. Now libraries specially need the recognition they deserve."

 

Challenges for academic libraries in difficult economic times is
available at www.rin.ac.uk/challenges-for-libraries. Hard copies are
also available to distribute to colleagues, email
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For further information please contact: 

 

Sarah Gentleman      [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>  T +44 (0) 20 7412 7241

 

http://twitter.com/research_inform

http://www.rin.ac.uk/news 

 

Notes to Editors:

 

The Research Information Network (RIN) was set up in 2005 by the four UK
higher education funding bodies, the seven research councils and the
three national libraries. The RIN's role is to enhance and broaden
understanding of the information resources and services available to
researchers, and how they use them; and to promote the innovation and
development of effective policies and strategies for the benefit of the
UK research community. www.rin.ac.uk <http://www.rin.ac.uk/>  

 

Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL) All
universities in the United Kingdom and Ireland are SCONUL members: so
too are many of the UK's colleges of higher education. Also members are
the major national libraries both sides of the Irish Sea. Most of our
activities are carried out by the heads of library services, often
through SCONUL's range of expert groups or our Executive Board.
www.sconul.ac.uk <http://www.sconul.ac.uk/>