Five Colleges (MA) Consortium Plans Tech Consolidation
Some express concern over reduced staffing
Lynn Blumenstein -- Library Journal, 11/19/2009
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- Library tech consolidation plan brings on service concerns
- Outside consultant to perform cost-benefit analysis
- Change in staffing patterns also an issue
Yet more academic libraries are looking to save money by sharing functions. The Five College Librarians Council (FCLC) has released a draft report that addresses cost savings by consolidating acquisition, cataloging, and book processing functions among the Five Colleges, Inc. consortium’s members, four private, liberal arts colleges and the University of Massachusetts (UM), Amherst.
The four private colleges are Amherst College, Amherst; Hampshire College, Amherst; Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley; and Smith College, Northampton.
Feedback brings adjustments
Based on librarian feedback, the FCLC issued a statement November 2 that it will pursue "further due diligence," with an updated version of the initial report, focused on books, to be issued by the end of January 2010.
This report will address more detailed book operations, common standards for receiving YBP-supplied books, and a cost-benefit analysis of consolidated workflow that includes serials and electronic resources. An outside consultant's cost-benefit analysis is due in fall 2010.
Originally, the report called for "the implementation of a consolidated workflow for books effective July 1, 2010." Now, the Five Colleges libraries have agreed to implement only shelf-ready processing no later than 2010 for books ordered through YBP and will work toward implementing common standards, according to an FCLC memo dated November 2.
"There was a general concern about the quality of service to individual libraries and users, that bureaucracy would make it more difficult to respond in a timely manner" UM director of libraries and FCLC chair Jay Schafer told LJ, describing the report feedback.
Librarians were concerned about consolidated library services being able to provide personal service to faculty, he said, especially in delivering reserve and 24-hour turnaround in rush requests.
Job consolidation concern
Also of concern was the impact on staffing. The report included an estimate that FTE staff would drop from 19.39 to 13.56, based on "the reduction in volume alone." This figure didn’t take into account "any modification of current technical services practice." The FTE would drop to 10.5 if all the consortium members were to implement shelf-ready processing.
The FTE professional staff within these numbers would drop from 3.05 to one, with the recommendation that the sole professional be a cataloger. The report notes that cataloging foreign-language materials can "benefit from the availability of subject specialists who can contribute language skills."
Job consolidation, Schafer said, is a complicated issue that must include reassigning staff and using them in more 21st century endeavors. Digital formats now comprise more than 70 percent of acquisitions but more than 70 percent of staff is devoted to processing print materials.
Contact the author: Lynn.LJarticles@gmail.com
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