Five College libraries exploring joint operations
Librarians at the Five Colleges are proposing several steps to integrate operations such as acquisitions, cataloging and materials processing to reduce costs for the individual campuses.
The announcement comes nearly a month after the leaders of the five schools called for a higher level of integration aimed at creating new efficiencies and pooling resources.
In a broadcast e-mail sent April 9, the college presidents and Chancellor Robert C. Holub said the Five College Librarians Council is proposing expanded integration of library collections and the centralization of back office operations “to the greatest degree possible.”
“In these difficult economic times leveraging our resources to expand the breadth of our library resources is essential,” said the message. “Further coordination of our multiple book collections will ensure the strength of all of them and sustain our current purchasing power. Ordering additional copies only when they are clearly required to support teaching, learning, and research will avoid unnecessary duplication.”
Holub and presidents Anthony Marx of Amherst College, Ralph Hexter of Hampshire College, Joanne Creighton of Mount Holyoke College and Carol Christ of Smith College, appealed for campus backing for the library initiative.
“We believe these efforts represent the creativity and initiative that is essential for the Five Colleges during these economically challenging times,” said the message. We recognize that realizing these projects entails much effort and will present significant challenges. To succeed, our Librarians and their staff will need your support. We ask that you join us in encouraging these efforts.”
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April 9, 2009.
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