YSU seeks library funding raise

By Harold Gwin

Library funding hasn’t increased since 2004, a report shows.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown State University Academic Senate thinks it’s time for the university to begin increasing funding for Maag Library.

The Senate passed a resolution Wednesday calling for an additional $75,000 for the library in the next academic year that begins July 1. That represents a 7 percent increase in the $1,075,160 spent this year.

Funding for the library has remained flat since 2004, said Dr. Louise Aurilio, assistant professor of nursing and chairman of the Senate’s Library Committee, as she made the recommendation for the funding increase.

The additional funding is needed for acquisitions to cover the cost of materials and related items in new program needs, such as the new doctor of physical therapy degree and studies in geriatrics, and various accreditation report issues and concerns, Aurilio said.

The committee, in its report to the Senate, said it believes that library resources are critical and essential to fulfilling the university’s mission and goals. It pointed out that YSU’s social work program was recently cited for insufficient local library resources, and the engineering program has similar issues.

The report also noted that the committee repeatedly has sought additional library funding.

Dr. David C. Sweet, YSU president, attended the Senate meeting and said later that the resolution “will be taken under advisement” as the 2008-09 budget is being prepared.

The issue will go to the provost, who prepares the university’s academic budget, Sweet said.

Aurilio said the library fell prey to the same budgetary constraints as every other department at YSU in recent years.

The provost’s office has given whatever additional money it could to help fund library operations, but a more steady stream of increased financial assistance is required, she added.

YSU is part of OhioLINK, a consortium of 86 Ohio college and university libraries and the State Library of Ohio, that work together to provide Ohio students, faculty and researchers with the information they need for teaching and research.

The committee report noted that OhioLINK analyzed library funding at the 15 public four-year Ohio institutions of higher learning over the past five years and found that eight of them showed a net increase in library budgets of more than 12 percent.

Only one, YSU, showed a net decrease in its library budget, the report said.

gwin@vindy.com