Kansas State University has announced it will reduce hours at Hale Library, according to a report posted in “K-State Today.”
The reduction of hours is the result of balancing large cost increases in subscriptions and general use budget reductions imposed universitywide. The university imposed one-time callbacks in FY 2016 of $10.7 million and then reduced base budgets totaling $11.6 million in FY 2017. The budget reductions were an outcome of state general fund reductions and a modest student enrollment decline. The impact to K-State Libraries over the past two years is a loss of almost $1 million in general use funds.
The key difference concerns the building’s hours. Last spring, the library was open 24 hours. This fall, that changes.
The new hours are as follows:
Library help
Monday-Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday: 1-6 p.m.
Sunday: 1-10 p.m.
Building
Monday-Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to midnight
Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday: 1-6 p.m.
Sun: 1 p.m. to midnight
The budget decrease coincides with a dramatic increase in the cost of maintaining quality research collections. Journal prices have increased 6 percent annually, on average, with the cumulative result much higher. For example, from 2010 to 2015, the cost of subscription packages from just five major publishers increased $417,000, or more than 21 percent.
Because collections and staffing account for more than 90 percent of K-State Libraries’ expenses, there are few options for cost savings. The Libraries administration recently made the difficult decision to discontinue several journal subscriptions along with staff reductions of 17 FTE (full-time equivalent) through attrition between FY12 and FY16.
The reduction in building hours will save $110,000 annually, largely through savings in security and custodial costs.
“Unfortunately, this latest cut will primarily impact students,” Dean of Libraries Lori Goetsch said. “Reduced building access limits access to computers, internet access, printers, and scanners, spaces for both group collaboration and quiet study — all key to the academic lives of K-State students. We are working with the smallest Libraries budget in a decade, and we have to make adjustments according to our financial reality.”
The following services and spaces will not be affected:
• “Ask a Librarian” services remain staffed more than 80 hours every week through chat, email, telephone, text, service desks or by appointment.
• K-State Libraries faculty members with diverse subject specialties are available for instruction and research consultations.
• The Anita C. Lehner 24 Hour Study Area, on the first floor, remains open 24/7 year-round. The room is equipped with six computers and a printer.
• Two self-checkout machines on the second floor allow patrons to check out books when Library Help is closed.
• Faculty, staff and students have access to online resources from off-campus 24/7.
K-State’s open access initiatives are also part of the effort to create affordable access to current academic research. The Libraries’ Center for the Advancement of Digital Scholarship will continue to promote the Open/Alternative Textbook Initiative, open access publishing and more.
“The impact of budget reductions reverberate across campus,” Provost April Mason said. “I understand that this was a difficult decision, but I support Dean Goetsch and the Libraries staff as they work to maintain and improve K-State Libraries with limited resources.”
