Results of the 1995-96 Library Materials Budget Survey of the ALCTS/CMDS/Chief Collection Development Officers of Large Research Libraries Discussion Group

January 16, 1996

Compiled by
Robert G. Sewell
Associate University Librarian
Collection Development and Management
Rutgers University
rgsewell@rci.rutgers.edu

Narative Summary

Attached are the results of the 1995/96 Final Library Materials Budget Survey of the membership of the ALA/ALCTS/CMDS Chief Collection Development Officers of Large Research Libraries Discussion Group.

The final survey results reflect four additional responses as well as updates and corrections from twelve libraries since June 1995. There are now responses from thirty-seven of the forty-six libraries in the discussion group.

Final Survey Results

1. Average base allocation in 1993/94 was $5,385,295 (same as preliminary survey results) and in 1994/95, $5,529,825 (a drop from $5,871,943 in preliminary survey).

2. 1995/96 Increases or Decreases:

a. The average anticipated increase 1995/96 is 3.1% (down from 3.8% in preliminary survey).

b. The highest anticipated increases are 13.5% at the University of Pennsylvania, 10.6% at Penn. State, and 10.0% at the National Library of Medicine.

c. Eight libraries anticipate increases between 5-8%.

d. Nine libraries reported increases ranging between .4%-4%.

e. Four libraries reported no increases, three of which have had no increases for three years or more.

f. Two reported decreases ranging from 1.0%-4.5% and the University of Hawaii received a 43% reduction!

3. One time funds anticipated in 1995/96 were reported by eleven libraries in amounts ranging from $15,000 to $500,000, with an average of those receiving increases of $232,347.

4. Changes in balance between serials and monographs from 1993/94 to 1994/95:

Nineteen reported increases in amount devoted to serials; ten reported decreases in amount devoted to serials; and two reported no change in the balance. Seventeen libraries devoted over 60% to serials in 1994/95. (One problem with the results is that some reported the balance of serials and monographs alone--i.e., totaling 100%--whereas others reported the percentage of serials and monographs as part of overall materials budget including other categories such as memberships, binding, etc.)

5. Allocations for electronic resources:

a. Among the thirty-two libraries reporting in this category, the average amount spent for electronic resources was $261,707 in 1993/94, $334,007 in 1994/95, and it is anticipated the average will be $367,576 in 1995/96. In 1994/95 this represents on average 5.5% of the total materials budget and in 1995/96 the average will be 5.8%. (In all cases, these figures are up from the preliminary survey.)

b. The libraries that devoted the most to electronic resources from the materials budget in 1994/95 were North Carolina--12.3% ($736,000); Duke--11.0% ($509,651); and British Columbia--11.5% ($691,319). (The last figure is up from the preliminary survey.) Illinois spent $857,661 on electronic resources but 75% charged to the "services" budget not the materials budget.

c. Three reported over 10% of materials budget was devoted to electronic resources in 1994/95; nine reported 6-9%; and seventeen reported 1-5%; and one less than 1%. Ohio State is one of the seventeen but it receives more than 40 databases through OhioLINK at no direct cost.

d. It is anticipated that in 1995/96, British Columbia will spend over $1,123,836 (14.5%) on electronic resources; North Carolina, $795,000 (11.7%); Arizona $600,000 (10.0%); and Illinois, $900,000.

6. Eleven reported paying for bibliographic utilities out of their materials budget in 1994/95, in amounts ranging from $16,645 (Arizona State) to $272,000 (University of Arizona).

7. Twenty-two reported binding allocations from the materials budget ranging from $70,000 (Smithsonian) to $554,542 (Princeton). Among the twenty-two, the average was $268,751.

8. Twenty-five included CRL membership in their materials budget.

9. Thirty-four reported special or endowed funds, of which twenty-two are not included in base allocations. The amounts range from $15,000 (Smithsonian, in base budget) to $1,904,458 (NYPL, not in base budget) and $4,000,000 (Yale, in base budget).

10. In 1994/95 twenty-three reported serials were cancelled and fourteen reported no cancellations. The average amount saved through cancellation among the fifteen that reported specific figures was $128,233 and 546 titles on average were cancelled among the seventeen that reported on titles. It is anticipated in 1995/96 twenty-six of those reporting will cancel serials and of the fourteen that had target figures, on average $231,011 worth of serials will be cancelled.

11. Of the thirty-one reporting, only two libraries plan to reduce their approval plans in 1995/96, one in the amount of $175,000.