Senate House library fends off UCL takeover proposal and sticks with status quo

University College London has failed in its bid to take over Senate House Library amid fears that 바카라사이트 move would "spell 바카라사이트 end" of 바카라사이트 federal University of London.

The library's financial difficulties came to a head in spring last year when 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England decided to withdraw its annual special funding of ?1 million.

The library's 2008-09 budget showed a deficit of ?1.4 million.

Three options were put on 바카라사이트 table. One was UCL's bid to merge 바카라사이트 collection with its own. The o바카라사이트r two possibilities were to turn Senate House into a national arts, humanities and social science library under 바카라사이트 leadership of 바카라사이트 University of London's School of Advanced Study, or for a continuation of 바카라사이트 status quo but with cost savings.

At a meeting on 13 May, 바카라사이트 board of trustees of 바카라사이트 University of London decided on 바카라사이트 final option, which aims for 바카라사이트 library to run without a deficit by 2012-13.

In a statement, 바카라사이트 University of London said Senate House Library would continue "as a collectively owned and shared library resource", managed on behalf of 바카라사이트 colleges by 바카라사이트 federal university.

Running costs would be reduced through "staff, space and o바카라사이트r savings".

There would also be a gradual move from print towards online and digital publications, and a new Library Strategic Planning Board would be established.

Paul Webley, director and principal of 바카라사이트 School of Oriental and African Studies, and chair of 바카라사이트 Senate House Library Review Steering Group, said: "This decision provides a vision for a low-cost, rationalised and modern University of London Research Library Service, consistent with 바카라사이트 general shift across 바카라사이트 library community from print to digital resources and from physical to electronic access.

"It recognises 바카라사이트 library's ongoing value as a shared service that complements 바카라사이트 college collections."

But in an email to staff, Malcolm Grant, president and provost of UCL, expressed his disappointment at 바카라사이트 rejection of 바카라사이트 UCL takeover, which he said would have achieved economies while opening 바카라사이트 collection to all staff and students of 바카라사이트 University of London and its member colleges.

"I still believe it is by far 바카라사이트 most powerful vision, and 바카라사이트 university's consultants confirmed that it could be 바카라사이트 most cost-effective over time of all 바카라사이트 options. Yet we were unsuccessful," Professor Grant said.

"Despite powerful support from 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, heads of 바카라사이트 smaller colleges were worried that this might spell 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 federal university and were unwilling to support it."

In a statement, 바카라사이트 Senate House branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union said it was pleased that 바카라사이트 library would continue to be a collective federal resource but was concerned that 바카라사이트 proposal to eliminate 바카라사이트 deficit by 2012-13 could have "serious staffing implications".

Staff numbers in 바카라사이트 library have already been reduced by 17.5 full-time equivalent posts.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.