Facing the Serials Crisis Changing budget allocations in a time of uncertainty Larry Schmidt University of Wyoming ASEE Annual Conference 2004 Session 3241

The University of Wyoming 12,021 Undergraduate students 12,021 Undergraduate students 2,229 Graduate Students 2,229 Graduate Students Land Grant Institution Land Grant Institution State’s only provider of baccalaureate and graduate education, research and outreach services. State’s only provider of baccalaureate and graduate education, research and outreach services.

College of Engineering 1198 Undergraduate Engineering students 1198 Undergraduate Engineering students 179 Graduate Students 179 Graduate Students 79 Engineering Faculty & Academic Professionals 79 Engineering Faculty & Academic Professionals

Engineering Departments at the University of Wyoming Civil & Architectural Engineering Civil & Architectural Engineering Chemical Engineering Chemical Engineering Computer Science Computer Science Electrical & Computer Engineering Electrical & Computer Engineering Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Atmospheric Science* Atmospheric Science*

The University of Wyoming Libraries Collection Development Process Department allocations Department allocations Combined serial & monograph budgets Combined serial & monograph budgets Originally used factor-based allocation system Originally used factor-based allocation system History-based decisions became the norm History-based decisions became the norm Liaison-based system of communication Liaison-based system of communication

The Need for Change What is the cause of the budget crisis at the UW? What is the cause of the budget crisis at the UW? Library working with a flat budget Library working with a flat budget Serial inflation greater than the consumer price index Serial inflation greater than the consumer price index Allocations based on “history plus increment” Allocations based on “history plus increment” Allocations as “faculty money” Allocations as “faculty money”

Problems with the current system Books Books Book budgets cannibalized by serials costs Book budgets cannibalized by serials costs Subsequent book budgets were dependent on one time funding Subsequent book budgets were dependent on one time funding Dated collection Dated collection Faculty book requests in support of classes were often unfilled. Faculty book requests in support of classes were often unfilled. Serials Serials Continued serials cuts by all departments Continued serials cuts by all departments Budgets of most departments went only to serials Budgets of most departments went only to serials Some departments were unable to purchase society packages. Some departments were unable to purchase society packages.

Engineering Serials Breakdown FY 2003

Serial Costs for 2003

Electrical Engineering The Catalyst For Change Electrical Engineering was unable to purchase core material Electrical Engineering was unable to purchase core material NO set budget for any purchase of books NO set budget for any purchase of books Society package cost would soon exceed their available allocation Society package cost would soon exceed their available allocation

IEEE package cost, the original budget allocation and the total serial costs from FY

Other problems with the current budget system in engineering Focus on journals supporting individual research Focus on journals supporting individual research Undergraduate book collection is suffering Undergraduate book collection is suffering Collection is dated and incomplete Collection is dated and incomplete Most current FE Exam study guide available in the library is 1990 Most current FE Exam study guide available in the library is 1990

Book & Serial Purchases for FY 2003 AllocationFY 2003 BudgetBooksSerials Chemical Engineering$950$40,835 Civil Engineering$0$66,648 Computer Science$0$45,500 Electrical Engineering$0$41,662 Mechanical Engineering$6,680$62,640 Total Engineering$7,630$253,039

Deciding on a new system More opportunities to purchase books More opportunities to purchase books Allow for greater purchasing power for package deals Allow for greater purchasing power for package deals Support undergraduate education Support undergraduate education Support graduate and faculty research Support graduate and faculty research

Process for Change Evaluate current databases & article indexes and costs associated with them Evaluate current databases & article indexes and costs associated with them Evaluate engineering society packages Evaluate engineering society packages Analyze the high cost of commercial press journals – publicize inflation history Analyze the high cost of commercial press journals – publicize inflation history Analyze usage statistics and impact factors Analyze usage statistics and impact factors Communication across the college Communication across the college

Collapsed Allocation Concept Budget for all engineering serials and books in one allocation College of Engineering and University priorities determine purchases of serials and books

Association Packages (primarily serials) Proposed Engineering Allocation Flow Chart Undergraduate Collections (primarily books) Interdisciplinary Serials Purchase requests I. Support instruction II. Support interdisciplinary research Approval plan University publications 2 nd Tier Associations Alternative press (SPARC) Periodicals in support of research Books in support of research ILL Serials Formats Print only Print & electronic only Electronic only Document Delivery General engineering (approval plan) Document Delivery (engineering account))

First Year Results Over $11,000 in book purchases Over $11,000 in book purchases Canceled high priced journals with low usage statistics Canceled high priced journals with low usage statistics Increased purchasing power with move to electronic only packages Increased purchasing power with move to electronic only packages Transferred some packages and titles to the protected core account Transferred some packages and titles to the protected core account

Successes Greater flexibility for changes in curriculum Greater flexibility for changes in curriculum Shift away from faculty perception that department allocations were “theirs” Shift away from faculty perception that department allocations were “theirs” Improved communication Improved communication Between engineering departments Between engineering departments Between College of Engineering and UW Libraries Between College of Engineering and UW Libraries

The Process Today Working on a “do more with less” philosophy Working on a “do more with less” philosophy The University of Wyoming Libraries allocation process is still evolving. The University of Wyoming Libraries allocation process is still evolving. Engineering faculty still willing to work with me Engineering faculty still willing to work with me

Conclusion Process has prepared engineering for an uncertain future Communication between engineering faculty and the Libraries is strong Faculty are much more aware of the publishing process and are expressing their desire to force change in that process.