Library News for the Faculty

From University Librarian Gary E. Strong

As this is being printed, a special session of the California state legislature is underway that may result in severe reductions in the UC-wide allocation beyond what was announced when the budget accord was reached last fall. As a result of the reduced funding for UC in that budget, UCLA's allocation was cut by $31 million, and in a November presentation to the UC Regents' Committee on Educational Policy, Chancellor Gene Block said he feared an additional $12 million reduction.

More than eighty-five percent of the Library's budget comes from state funds, so these developments concern us deeply. The chancellor has protected the Library from any cut in its allocation so far this fiscal year, but even if he is able to protect us from a mid-year cut as well, we are moving forward with plans to reduce the portion of our 2008-09 budget that comes from state funds by one percent, or approximately $369,000. This reduction will have a limited impact on Library operations and will provide a reserve that can be carried over into the 2009-10 fiscal year to compensate for what we fear will be even more severe reductions.

In the fall issue of Library News for the Faculty, I explained that campus units including the Library are being billed for campus utilities and deferred maintenance expenses beginning this fiscal year, which impacts our already tight budget. Fortunately, the billing is being phased in over the course of the year, and we have a limited amount of carry-forward money from the 2007-08 fiscal year with which we will be able to cover these new expenses.

This will hopefully leave us relatively unscathed for the current fiscal year, but we are now busy with planning our 2009-10 budget in order to meet the March deadline set by the campus. Given California's and the nation's economy, the reduction in UC's state fund allocation will no doubt be severe, and our planning must account for this. To give you an idea of the magnitude of what the Library faces: a five percent reduction in our state fund allocation would be $1.85 million, and a ten percent reduction would be $3.7 million. This situation is not unique to UCLA; all UC libraries are planning for cuts in their state allocations for 2009-10 of up to ten percent.

On top of this, utilities, deferred maintenance, and benefits shortfalls not covered by the campus will be approximately $900,000 annually, a sum that is likely to increase each year. We also need to allocate money to cover the expected contributions the Library will need to make to the UC Retirement Fund on behalf of our staff.

As you can see, this is a difficult situation, and our planning will require that we make difficult decisions. Among the options we must consider are the size of the collections budget, what to do with open positions when staffers retire or leave, and building and service hours in the campus libraries. I am posting updates on my blog as developments warrant.

These decisions will be made in collaboration with campus administration, and I welcome your thoughts and questions as well. Please call me at extension 51201 or email me.