Though there are not yet estimates as to how much money this will save, the presidents stated in a joint e-mail that it “will ensure the strength of all [book collections] and sustain our current purchasing power.” Interim Librarian of the College Will Bridegam added that, “We know from the experiences of other consortia that savings can be achieved by centralizing library technical services.”
For students, the collaboration process will mean that there will be less duplicate books in the library, which “may result in the need to use the Five College loan system more frequently,” said Bridegam. However, he and Dean of Faculty Gregory Call agreed that this will not affect books ordered by faculty for teaching, such as those on reserve.
“For research and [courses], we will still purchase duplicate copies if the faculty making the request feels that it’s important,” Call said. “For books on reserve we will still continue to purchase books whether they’re duplicates or not, so basically what we’re hoping to accomplish is that everyone is made aware if other institutions have either already purchased or requested the books.”
According to Bridegam, the Five College Librarians Council (FCLC) has been working towards greater library cooperation, but the economic crisis hastened the process and increased the degree of collaboration. The FCLC will now appoint a committee to oversee the integration process, which it hopes will be complete by July 1, 2010. The centralization of electronic resource flow will be completed next year.
The changes in the library were a point of contention at the Committee on Education Policy’s public meeting April 14. Professor of History and Women’s and Gender Studies Margaret Hunt voiced concern over what she perceived as a top-down approach to the library decisions. “I don’t think this is a good way to foster five College Collaboration,” said Hunt, “at least if it’s done this way.” She noted that the employees most likely to be affected by the change, upwards of 10 to 11 workers in the library, were not involved in the decision-making process.
She also questioned if a cost-benefit analysis had even been done by the time of the decision, noting that Amherst’s acquisition process is thought to be much more efficient and timely than UMass’, where the new central library cataloguing will occur — she estimated that on average it might take seven weeks for a professor to acquire a book at Amherst and close to six months at UMass.
Moreover, while some librarians will be transferred to the new, centralized unit, Bridegam said that “there will probably be some layoffs.” The specifics of this process have not yet been determined, but according to Call, the College will do its utmost to help the librarians adjust, such as helping them find jobs within the new Five College technical services or within the College. Also under consideration is the possibility of offering those close to retirement a retirement package.
“Our librarians are certainly upset,” Call said. “I think it’s fair to say that this came as somewhat of a surprise and they’re understandably upset by the uncertainties that are involved in this. We certainly want to work with them to try to develop the plan for the new unit and find as many opportunities as possible for them within the College and within the unit as we can.”