RLI 282 ARL Library Budgets after the Great Recession, 2011–13 10 RESEARCH LIBRARY ISSUES: A REPORT FROM ARL, CNI, AND SPARC 2013 Figure 10. Acquisitions Budgets, FY2011–2012 & FY2012–2013 These patterns were distributed unevenly across the categories of membership. For instance, among ARL US public university members a mere 15 of the 52 (29% of the cohort) received increases both years. By contrast 15 of 23 US private university members (65% of the cohort) experienced increased acquisition budgets each of two successive fiscal years. A 2010 internal ARL survey indicated that 3% of the budgets for public institutions were dependent on endowments while the figure was close to 14% for private ARLs. Endowments are singularly focused on acquisitions and it is clear that the rebound in endowments has been a real benefit to these members of the Association. Canadian members of ARL seemed immune in the early years of the downturn. However, fewer than half of those reporting experienced increases in the two most recent fiscal years. The administrative budgets of these same 88 libraries reflect a pattern that is similar to that of the acquisition budgets. Keep in mind that the largest component of administrative budgets is personnel salaries, where institutions were making a commitment to staff, some for the first time in three years. Figure 11 illustrates the point. The data show (upper right quadrant) that 36 libraries (41%) received increases in both fiscal years, but 7 of these were 3% or less and did not mark a significant improvement against the HEPI. Notably, 25 libraries (28%) lost ground—receiving flat or reduced budgets both fiscal years. The remaining 27 responding libraries (31%) had an uneven experience, receiving either flat or reduced administrative budgets one year and increases in the other. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 7 7 1 1 1 7 10 2 1 3 6 14 6 1 1 5 2 1 1 FY 2012-13 =-10% -7-9% -4-6% -1-3% No Change 1-3% 4-6% 7-9% =10% =10% 7-9% 4-6% 1-3% No Change -1-3% -4-6% -7-9% =-10% FY211-2
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