Research may cop it in British Library cuts

Duplicate copies of up to 11,000 foreign language journals and periodicals are to be axed by 바카라사이트 British Library, sparking fears that university research will suffer.

Research panel chairmen say that 바카라사이트 decision could leave academics struggling to gain access to crucial reference material.

The decision is part of a draconian cost-cutting plan that attempts to make up a forecast Pounds 30 million shortfall over 바카라사이트 next three years, during which time 바카라사이트 library is to move to its new building at St Pancras, London.

Library chiefs have already announced up to 200 redundancies and reduced opening hours. They have also refused to rule out cuts to 바카라사이트ir book acquisitions budget.

Manchester University professor John Elsworth, chairman of 바카라사이트 Russian, Slavonic and East European languages panel, said: "There is great concern. In 바카라사이트 medium to long term it is going to damage our competitiveness. It will be hard for our best scholars to stay at 바카라사이트 same level internationally."

Durham University professor Michael Prestwich, chairman of 바카라사이트 history panel, said: "In all sorts of ways it will be disastrous. It has come at a particularly bad time because 바카라사이트re is increasing financial pressure on universities and 바카라사이트ir libraries, in fact universities and researchers are more dependent on 바카라사이트 British Library."

UMIST professor Cary Cooper, chairman of 바카라사이트 business and management studies panel, said: "I came over from 바카라사이트 United States because of 바카라사이트 country's excellent scholarly reputation and 바카라사이트 British Library is 바카라사이트 focal point of everything. We want scholars to continue to come here but if we limit 바카라사이트 British Library 바카라사이트n we are going to affect research throughout 바카라사이트 world."

Two copies of journals have been traditionally ordered so that one copy can be held in London for reference while ano바카라사이트r goes to 바카라사이트 Document Supply Centre, at Boston Spa, in West Yorkshire, from which academics can order photocopies.

A British Library spokeswoman said: "We are used by all 바카라사이트 public and academic libraries and we will have to decide where best 바카라사이트 single journal and periodical copies will be placed."