U. of Florida Facing Massive Serials Cuts

-- Library Journal, 03/16/2006

Faced with flat state funding and high inflation, the University of Florida's Smathers Libraries is beginning a massive serials cancellation project that would trim a hefty $750,000 worth of journals, both electronic and paper, for the 2007 fiscal year. The exercise, which will continue through this July unless additional funding comes through, would trim a significant chunk from the libraries' $7.5 million collections budget. By law, the library cannot exceed its allocated budget and, after years of stretching dollars to avoid costly cuts, the money is simply not there. "We've already cut monograph purchases by 30-40 percent across all disciplines," John Ingram, associate director of collections, said. "We can't cut any more; there is simply no more flesh left to cut." Ingram said selectors are now working with faculty members to assemble a list of cuts to be determined by the end of April, when Florida's academic year ends. Ingram said the library was facing over $600,000 in price increases alone simply to maintain current subscriptions.