MIT Libraries Budget Information

Message to the Libraries staff 12/12/08
from Ann Wolpert

Collections Reductions

Letters to the MIT Community from President, Provost, Chancellor, and Executive Vice President

Institute-Wide Planning Site

About us > Budget > Information Resources Reductions

MIT Libraries Collections Reductions

The MIT Libraries implemented a $1.4M reduction for FY2010 across all budget categories -- collections, labor, and operations. Our reduction target for collections was approximately $700,000. Achieving this level of magnitude was particularly challenging because this was the first of several years of substantial reduction. Escalating journal and database prices, inflation, and fluctuating pricing models continue to be difficult to manage as well.

The Libraries are committed to working with members of the MIT community to get input on cancellation options. We appreciate your understanding as we make difficult decisions on behalf of the Institute.

Cancellations

• Cancellation for 2010 (MIT only)
• Cancellation for 2011 (MIT only)

Comments and Feedback

Please send comments to your library subject specialist or to budgetfeedback-lib@mit.edu.

Principles and Reductions Strategies

Because nearly 85% of the Libraries' collections budget is spent on recurring serial subscriptions, i.e., databases, journals, annuals, etc., we will seek most of our savings there. This means we cannot avoid cancellations of significant numbers of unique titles that are currently used by faculty, staff and students. During this period of constraint, we will:

• continue to evaluate indexing/abstracting services and database content for overlap, usability, and current need.
• no longer be able to justify overlapping content in our database and reference collection coverage.
• prefer electronic journals over print journals for most journal literature and reference content.
• delay purchasing electronic journal back files that duplicate print journals we already own until the budget situation improves.
• strive to retain as much "unique" content as possible and provide alternative access for materials we are no longer able to provide locally.
• consider appropriate metrics in making cancellation decisions, including: usage statistics, cost ratios, citation practices, impact factors, etc.

More information and frequently asked questions.

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This page was last updated on Tuesday, 25-Jan-2011 15:57:46 EST