MU Libraries Update for CAFNR and TAM: Library Budget

The budget is indeed challenging. With expenditures of $18,643,152, the MU Libraries rank 53rd among the 62 AAU institutions that are members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). Our expenditures per FTE student are 37.33% below the ARL average. (For more detail, see our Annual Statistical Report, attached, and our Operating Expenditures report.) Special challenges this year include:

• Continued inflation of journal and database subscriptions.
• The 2% reduction in the general allocation of funds, as for all University units.
• Mandatory increases in minimum wage and for some staff classifications.
• The need to replenish our self-insurance fund following the mold outbreak and fire of recent years.
• Increased cost for rental of off-campus storage of materials.
• Flat or reduced funding of the UM Library Systems Office and other state library organizations, resulting in some cancellations and shifting some costs to the MU Libraries’ budget.

We are considering options for dealing with these issues. If the proposed student fee does not pass, we will almost certainly face a very large journal cancellation. We will begin the work of compiling usage statistics and costs this summer and will be reviewing subscriptions with faculty in the fall in order to be prepared for this eventuality. We will also need to consider curtailing services. If you share our concern regarding library funding, please convey that to your department chair, your dean, and to the  Campus Library Committee.