Stanford University Libraries Cut 15%, Lose Staff, Hours, Materials Budget

More than 60 positions lost; Physics Library to close

Lynn Blumenstein -- Library Journal, 6/18/2009

• Stanford endowment drops 30 percent
• Staff, hours, materials cut; Physics Library to close
• Most staff travel eliminated

In another example of widespread cuts in academic library budgets, Stanford University Libraries (SUL), CA, has announced staff, service, and materials cutbacks in order to meet a 2010 budget reduction of 15 percent mandated by the university. 

SUL has lost 58 full-time positions, with 32 layoffs and 26 vacant positions eliminated. Other cost-cutting actions include reducing the materials budget; closing Green Library at 1 a.m.; eliminating patron outreach programs, including the semi-annual magazine Imprint; and eliminating most staff travel. The Physics Library will close in the summer of 2010 and transfer its holdings to two other locations.

Stanford did not provide specific numbers regarding the dollar value of the cuts, but did announce that its endowment had shrunk 30 percent in 2009, thus generating reduced income

Staff reductions
SUL on June 16 laid off 32 employees and offered nine other staff members the option of being laid off and receiving severance benefits instead of staying in revamped positions at reduced pay or reduced hours. Six chose to remain at reduced hours, many down to 50 percent, according to spokesperson Andrew Hercovik. "Before these cuts, there were 403 positions--not counting our self-supporting auxiliary units," Hercovik told LJ. " 

Mimi Calter, special projects librarian and intellectual property manager, told LJ that all schools and administrative units at Stanford were asked to trim their budgets by 15 percent. Most departing employees will be eligible for the university’s enhanced severance package, which expires June 30.

Academic library cuts widespread
SUL isn’t alone is experiencing a severe budget crunch. Many other major research libraries have cut services and staff and frozen open positions, as LJ has reported.

The University of Washington libraries has faced a severe budget readjustment: an "unprecedented" 20 percent cumulative cut, according to library dean Betsy Wilson. At the University of Michigan, the budget hasn’t been finalized, but some 90 of 420 staffers have been encouraged to retire. If they do so by August, they’ll get nine months of salary.

Read more Newswire stories:

Medical Students, Other Student Groups Endorse Open Access

Fallout from the Hoax Article: Editor Resigns, OA Publishers Respond

At BYU, Kindle Program on Hold, But University of Nebraska-Omaha’s Program Going Strong

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Awards Will Impact Academic Libraries

After Michigan Amendments to Google Deal, Library Groups Issue Updated “Guide for the Perplexed”

Columns:
‘Tis the Season To Discuss Our Future - Part I | From the Bell Tower

Too Big to #Fail: Reflecting on Changes in the Information Landscape, Part I | Peer to Peer Review

Elsevier honored at SLA and expands Scopus titles; EBSCO signs with footnote.com; Ingram reorganizes Content Group & more

Best Sellers in Mathematics