In a bid to improve UC Berkeley libraries while mitigating fiscal deficits, library administrators have tasked teams of employees with exploring ways to continue library services and expand digital access to information in a more streamlined way.
After presenting the teams’ proposals to the Library Committee of the Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate in early May and soliciting feedback from students, faculty and staff, library administrators will select a new cost-effective service model in July, according to an email from University Librarian Tom Leonard.
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In four years, the library has cut more than 70 staff positions due to a decrease in state funding to UC Berkeley, according to [University Librarian Tom] Leonard. Assuming relatively stable future budgets, the library would still need to reduce its workforce through attrition over the next three years in order to meet budget goals, the email states.
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While the library spends about $8 million per year from private donations to add to existing collections, this money is not enough to combat the library’s budget deficit with reduced staffing already compromising library services, Leonard said in the email.
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