Budget-Reduction Planning:The University of Miami Experience

Sharyn J. Ladnersladner@miami.edu

ARL Library Assessment ForumALA Midwinter

January 23, 2009

University of Miami - 2007

• privately supported, non-sectarian research university located in Coral Gables, FL

• 11 degree granting schools and colleges• 10,400 undergraduates• 4,900 graduate students• 13,000 total employees • 3,000 faculty• 7 libraries• $1.8 B net assets

University of Miami Libraries - 2007

• 3.2 M volumes – 520,295 e-books

• 62,621 current serial titles– 56,639 e-serials– 15,108 print

• 16,782 LF manuscripts & archives• 110,000 items in 268 digital collections• 215 professional & support staff• $13.8 M materials expenditures• $25.9 M total library expenditures

New University Policies – 12/08

• Hiring of faculty and staff• Overloads & other compensation adjustments • Relocation allowances• Capital projects and renovations• Equipment purchases >$2,500• Non-routine expenditures >$25,000• Hiring of consultants

Budget Reduction Planning

• Plan for 5% and 10% reductions for FY10• How can we continue to fund strategic

initiatives?– Teaching and learning– Digital library– Special collections– QEP

• What can we backburner or eliminate?

Guiding Principles

• Give priority to signature programs• Provide access to content• Continue to rank among top-50 ARLs • Serve as vibrant intellectual center • Develop partnerships and collaborations• Address program gaps

Assessment Support

• ARL statistics (5-year trends) • E-resource usage (duplicative resources)• Focused circulation statistics• Faculty stakeholder interviews• Peer inquiry• Productivity measures

Library Collections

• Refocus acquisitions – Analyze duplicative e-resources– Favor e over p– Focus on special collections – Tighten up approval plans

• Downsize offsite storage• Explore cooperative programs for low-use materials• Evaluate memberships for ROI

Signature Programs

• ARTstor partnership• Music streaming through Variations3 • Cuban Theater Digital Archive• QEP – “Faculty Learning Communities to

Enhance Undergraduate Education”

“Healthier patients recover faster”

• We are a lean operation and are in shape• Hard times provide opportunities– May accelerate move to e-only– Conduct zero-based staffing review – Encourage staff to try new things