Proposed 2012-2013 library budget suggests closing departmental libraries

Proposed library budget suggests closing departmental libraries;  See page 45.:

“The initial $295,000 cut for the University Libraries listed above could be achieved by keeping key staff and faculty positions vacant, thus avoiding some layoffs. However, the depth of the cut required at 5% would not be possible without a sizeable number of layoffs. The closing of the four Departmental Libraries – Architecture and Fine Arts, Education, Journalism, and Music – would provide the ability to eliminate staff salaries, OPS budget, and Operations budget, reducing expenditures by just over $500,000. The services and the majority of the collections of these libraries would be incorporated into Library West, with some materials going to off-site storage. Education students and faculty would see the most negative impact as they are furthest from Library West, but all students and faculty in these areas would be adversely affected. This incorporation of additional materials and use of Library West by hundreds of additional students, without additional staff, would place the branch at or beyond capacity, and would remove the potential of improving the current shortage of study and collaboration space. This is an unsatisfactory solution, but is indicative of the severe impact a 5% cut would have on library services.”

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! J

From: Russell,Judith
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 2:16 PM
To: Library Council
Cc: Strawn,Grace E
Subject: Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Budget Review: The George A. Smathers Libraries

The Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Budget Review for the George A. Smathers Libraries has been posted in the IR@UF and is now available at: http://ufdc.ufl.edu/l/IR00000719/00001.

My thanks to everyone who contributed to producing this document. It provides a clear explanation of, and strong support for, the Libraries budget. Hopefully we will once again be successful in protecting (and perhaps even expanding) our budget!

Happy Holidays!

Judy

Judith C. Russell

Dean of University Libraries

George A. Smathers Libraries

University of Florida

535 Library West

PO Box 117000

Gainesville FL 32611-7000

Phone: 352-273-2505

Mobile: 202-262-6501

Fax: 352-392-7251

E-Mail: jcrussell@ufl.edu

Web: www.uflib.ufl.edu

UF Libraries' Homecoming float embraces "Club West"

"Club West" was the theme of the UF Libraries' float for the 2011 homecoming parade. The epithet "Club West" is frequently used by students to refer to the freewheeling and often noisy atmosphere of Library West. The more than 18 other University of Florida libraries and collections do not appear to have been represented by the float.

See images of the float here: Partay! (Adobe PDF document)

"Save the AFA Library" rally covered in Gainesville Sun, Alligator

See the Gainesville Sun and Independent Florida Alligator for coverage of yesterday's "Save the AFA Library" rally. Image: Gainesville Sun

"Save the AFA library" event to be held on October 10, 2011 at 2:00 PM in front of the AFA library

Found on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=254504771252749):

Save the AFA Library. 

-------WE WILL BE MEETING ON 10/10 @ 2:00PM IN FRONT OF THE AFA-------
We need everyone so please come and be a part of this.



UF wants to shut down the Architecture Library where so many students spend their life at..this is horrible!! this means it will change UF's Architecture accreditation for its students and future students.. for more details, check out this link (oh, if you haven't signed this petition site, do it!!!!! please?!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-the-uf-architecture-fine-arts-library-and-music-library/

To make this easier and efficient/effective, we need more people so invite as much as you want! the more the better!!! we need to make UF understand how detrimental this will be to the future of this school!!! where else will you study? library west?! I dont think so! Please help keep this wonderful place in our school!

SAAH to explore alternatives to meeting space needs

According to an email from Graduate programs Director and Art History department head Melissa Hyde to the to art history faculty and graduate students (below) , the School of Art and Art History (SAAH) will be exploring alternative was to meet space concerns. In addition, Dean Chris Silver of the College of Design, Construction and Planning (DCP) has offered to perform a re-evaluation of SAAH facilities.

From: On Behalf Of Melissa Lee Hyde
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011
Subject: update on the library

+++++++++++++++

Dear All,

I am writing to give you an update on the proposal to move the AFA library to Smathers.  The AH faculty had a very good meeting with Richard Heipp and Dean Lavelli this past Friday, in which we discussed in some detail the reasons why we think the proposal to move the library would not serve the interests of the School or the College.

Our concerns were heard and are understood. It is the position of the Dean, Richard and I think, of the Art History faculty as well, that what is now needed are new, good and creative ideas about how to address our space and facilities needs as a College (Music is also involved in this) -- the issue that prompted all the discussion in the first place. We are very fortunate that Dean Silver of the College of Design, Construction and Planning (DCP) has offered to do a complete DCP re-evaluation of our space, so we will be getting the best, expert advice to help us shape our own ideas about alternative proposals for dealing with SAAH space and facilities issues. Thanks to the Provost and Deans Lavelli and Silver, we have before us a rare and exciting opportunity to think a-fresh about many aspects of our various programs, physical spaces and how we work within them.  I believe the plan is that these proposals will eventually be presented to the Provost for his consideration.

Will update you as I have further information. There will opportunities for everyone to offer ideas and feedback.

--
Melissa Lee Hyde, Associate Prof.
Director of Graduate Studies &
Head of Art History
School of Art and Art History, University of Florida Fine Arts Bldg. C 113

Dean of University Libraries Judy Russell responds to concerns expressed by DCP Dean Chris Silver

Text of email from Dean of University Libraries Judy Russell to Dean of the College of Design, Construction, and Planning Chris Silver, dated August 24, 2011:

From: Russell,Judith
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 5:17 AM
To: Silver,Christopher
Cc: Lavelli,Lucinda; Glover,Joseph
Subject: Re: Architecture and Fine Arts Library

I am gathering data about alternatives for the for AFA Library and Music Library collections, which I will share with you as it becomes available. I do want to assure you that wherever the collections are located, you will still have the same excellent library faculty dedicated to work with your students and faculty. We place a high value on those relationships, as you do.

One option that we are evaluating is for moving low use print journals and reference materials from the 3rd floor of Library West to offsite storage, so the AFA and Music collections could be retained as a collection, with dedicated space, within the building. The AFA collection currently utilizes approximately 10,500 linear feet of shelving. Library West has over 20,000 linear feet of bound journals in the compact shelving in the center of the 3rd floor. I am still waiting for the calculation for the adjacent space occupied by the reference collection, but it is probably at least 10,000 linear feet. While not all of this material is suitable for remote storage, a substantial portion is suitable. The floor plan for the 3rd floor is available at: http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/images/floor plan3.pdf.

The floor plan for the ground floor of Library West is available at:
http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/images/first floor.pdf. The Judaica collection is in the upper left corner. This is the "model" for keeping a subcollection together, rather than interfiling it with other materials. If that option better serves the needs of the CFA and DCP faculty, then we are certainly open to that possibility, especially if it is important for your accreditation.

One part of the analysis that as been completed is a comparison of the hours for AFA Library and Library West. Right now Library West is open 13-14 hours more per week. That does not include the expanded hours in the last 12-13 days of each semester when Library West is open from 8 am to 4 am, 7 days per week.

As you know, we are also planning for a dedicated space for the architectural archives in the Smathers Library (Library East). While that is not going to replace all of the open study and collaboration space in the AFA Library, it will provide some additional seating specifically for users of those materials.

At your convenience, I would be happy to meet with you and your faculty to discuss these and other options, but I do want to assure you, and them, that whatever decisions are made about the location of the collection and the staff of the AFA Library, we will do everything possible to ensure the continuation of excellent service and maintain the close working relationships with your faculty and students.

Judy
Judith C. Russell
jcrussell@ufl.edu

DCP Dean opposes Architecture and Fine Arts Library relocation

Text of email dated August 23, 2011 from Christopher Silver, Dean of the College of Design, Construction and Planning to Judy Russell, Dean of University Libraries:

On Aug 23, 2011, at 4:17 PM, "Silver,Christopher" <silver2@dcp.ufl.edu<mailto:silver2@dcp.ufl.edu» wrote:

Lucinda and Judy:

I have had an opportunity to discuss with our College administrators (including some of the affected the faculty) the general notion of relinquishing the Architecture and Fine Arts Library for some other use, and shifting the collection and services someplace else. The overwhelming sentiment is in opposition to the concept, not just to be oppositional, but because it will create far more problems than it will solve. Let me explain. First, one of the rationales for considering shifting the AFA Library to another use is because of space concerns expressed through accreditation visits, most recently in one of the Fine Arts programs. In the case of Art History and also in the case of our School of Architecture and our School of Landscape Architecture and Planning, we are able to count that space as dedicated space for our programs, and have done so in previous accreditation visits. If the collection is shifted to the West Library and blended in with the general collection in any way, we lose the ability to count that space. In other words, our space problem with accreditation gets worse, not better. And like the programs in the Fine Arts, we are perpetually being challenged by the accrediting bodies for not enough space. So relinquishing that space will only add to our deficit, not help it. On the positive side, we generate through the availability of a dedicated collection, dedicated space, and dedicated staff significant plus points in our accreditation ranking system. Indeed, the quality of the AFA Library during the last accreditation visit for Architecture several years ago helped us to have a nearly perfect score of excellence, except of course on one criterion, namely space. But we satisfy their concerns about our inadequate square footage by employing creative ways to reorganize our space more efficiently. Indeed, we would be happy to assist the Fine Arts programs to come up with innovative space saving actions that can likely satisfy your accrediting bodies like we have done with ours. In addition, we are about to undergo an accreditation visit for our graduate Urban and Regional Planning program. That program also is able to maintain its national stature among other planning programs because like the best one, we have dedicated libraries to support research and instruction (such as at Illinois, Chapel Hill, Texas, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Cornell, etc.) It is no coincidence that the lower ranked programs in planning simply draw upon the general library services to support their educational enterprise. Our planning, landscape architecture, interior design, and architecture faculty all use the AFA Library extensively, and push their students there on a regular basis.

I myself routinely use the AFA Library for my own teaching and research, and on a recent visit (first day of classes this past Monday afternoon), the place was in heavy use, and relied upon the two-decker carrels to handle the students. While I did not make any sort of scientific assessment of the spaces in the 2nd Floor of the Rudolph Weaver Building to possible areas of the West Library, I cannot imagine any spaces sufficient in size for the full collection, the reference materials, the study spaces, the service areas, and the librarians in the West Library. And in terms of the quality of the space as a place for study and research by our students and faculty, being incorporated into the mass activities of the West Library would be a very different environment, and one that would not at all be an improvement. While I have never visited the Music Library, I am told that there are significant structural challenges with that space that may warrant attention, and that the Music Library collection might be compatible with available spaces in the West Library.

Given the quality of the existing space for our library and value it holds for our programs on so many levels, any contemplated changes should be to improve the conditions. I cannot imagine how that would be accomplished by the various suggestions that have been floated regarding transferring the AFA Library to another location. I hope there are ways to meet Fine Arts needs without creating unnecessary problems with four of our DCP programs.
Thanks for your consideration.

Chris
Dean and Professor
College of Design, Construction and Planning
University of Florida
331 Architecture Building
Gainesville, FL 32611
Tel: 352-392-4836
Fax: 352-392-7266
Editor, Journal of Planning History