36 · Survey Results: Survey Questions and Responses
User need and use pattern changes were a major factor in the creation of the project. The opportunity for the libraries to
collaborate with the university’s IT department, the provost’s office, and student government helped make this a reality.
We believed that informational questions should be answered in the Learning Commons.
We wanted to bring service points into one central area for patrons (as much as is possible in our building). Some
patrons have complained because the circulation function is not on the entrance level (one floor below) but I think we
have made adjustments that address their concerns and the perceived inconvenience.
We wanted to redesign our space to make it more user friendly as well as efficient. This is an important service, and we
wanted the space to allow both access to resources and enable staff to do their jobs better.
Example 1: Financial and Staff Resources
7. If a change in library financial resources had a significant impact on the decision to reconfigure this
service, please briefly describe that change and the impact it had. If this did not have a significant
impact, please enter NA for Not Applicable. N=52
25 responded NA.
Budget cuts for the library and college of medicine led to loss of health science librarian positions through attrition.
Due to budget cuts and other factors, the number of librarians on staff has been gradually decreasing for many years. At
the same time, new work for librarians has also emerged that has required us to move some of their work (like working
on public service desks) to others.
Financial: Combining human resources (expenses) allowed service hours to be maintained with existing staff. It was
accepted that there would not likely be increases in funding in the future.
In FY10, the library budget was cut and closing two science libraries was a way to reduce costs and help meet the
budget reduction requirements.
In this era of scarce resources, all units, including the library, are being asked to operate in a more streamlined and
effective manner. Although the desk consolidation project will not result in financial savings, the fact that librarians will
not be spending as much time at the reference desk is a new way of operating. The hope and goal is that librarians will
have more time to devote to user and faculty engagement.
NA, other than availability of funds to take on this large renovation project.
Our goal to have fewer physical locations on campus will help in reallocating existing library positions.
Overall budget reduction.
Science librarians will be brought together from the science annex, math-physics library, and geological sciences library,
and will be based in the new science library. Although the library had lobbied for a consolidated science library for more
than a decade, it was clear that funding for a dedicated facility would not be available. In the end, fiscal constraints led
to a re-thinking of the chemistry library as a science library, albeit with a smaller footprint than desirable. We anticipate
User need and use pattern changes were a major factor in the creation of the project. The opportunity for the libraries to
collaborate with the university’s IT department, the provost’s office, and student government helped make this a reality.
We believed that informational questions should be answered in the Learning Commons.
We wanted to bring service points into one central area for patrons (as much as is possible in our building). Some
patrons have complained because the circulation function is not on the entrance level (one floor below) but I think we
have made adjustments that address their concerns and the perceived inconvenience.
We wanted to redesign our space to make it more user friendly as well as efficient. This is an important service, and we
wanted the space to allow both access to resources and enable staff to do their jobs better.
Example 1: Financial and Staff Resources
7. If a change in library financial resources had a significant impact on the decision to reconfigure this
service, please briefly describe that change and the impact it had. If this did not have a significant
impact, please enter NA for Not Applicable. N=52
25 responded NA.
Budget cuts for the library and college of medicine led to loss of health science librarian positions through attrition.
Due to budget cuts and other factors, the number of librarians on staff has been gradually decreasing for many years. At
the same time, new work for librarians has also emerged that has required us to move some of their work (like working
on public service desks) to others.
Financial: Combining human resources (expenses) allowed service hours to be maintained with existing staff. It was
accepted that there would not likely be increases in funding in the future.
In FY10, the library budget was cut and closing two science libraries was a way to reduce costs and help meet the
budget reduction requirements.
In this era of scarce resources, all units, including the library, are being asked to operate in a more streamlined and
effective manner. Although the desk consolidation project will not result in financial savings, the fact that librarians will
not be spending as much time at the reference desk is a new way of operating. The hope and goal is that librarians will
have more time to devote to user and faculty engagement.
NA, other than availability of funds to take on this large renovation project.
Our goal to have fewer physical locations on campus will help in reallocating existing library positions.
Overall budget reduction.
Science librarians will be brought together from the science annex, math-physics library, and geological sciences library,
and will be based in the new science library. Although the library had lobbied for a consolidated science library for more
than a decade, it was clear that funding for a dedicated facility would not be available. In the end, fiscal constraints led
to a re-thinking of the chemistry library as a science library, albeit with a smaller footprint than desirable. We anticipate
