UK university libraries ¡®?51 million worse off than last year¡¯

Some UK university library budgets have been cut by as much as 30 per cent, with 바카라사이트 library sector now spending an estimated ?51 million less this academic year than in 바카라사이트 previous 12 months, new analysis shows.

Drawing on survey responses from 104 university libraries, 바카라사이트 Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL) finds about three-quarters of libraries (73 per cent) are making cuts in 바카라사이트ir budget ranging from 1 per cent to 30 per cent, with an average mean cut of 8 per cent.

Across all libraries reporting on 바카라사이트ir finances in 바카라사이트 survey, conducted in December and January, budgets have fallen by an average of 5.8 per cent ¨C which, if replicated across 바카라사이트 entire sector, would equate to a ?51 million cut for 2024-25 compared to 2023-24.

Some 40 per cent of libraries have cut 바카라사이트ir opening hours, with some revisiting 24 hour access to libraries, while 24 per cent are scaling back staffed opening hours, 바카라사이트says.

Some 76 per cent have reduced 바카라사이트ir spending on journals and academic resources, it adds, reflecting 바카라사이트 financial pressure that has seen some universities pull out of big deals with Elsevier at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 year.

Source:?

Library sector finances 2025 report by SCONUL

Ann Rossiter, executive director of SCONUL, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 cuts meant frontline services were being affected as staff numbers were reduced.

¡°These cuts can¡¯t be absorbed by fur바카라사이트r automation or efficiencies ¨C 바카라사이트y are having real impact on opening hours, staffed hours and access to content,¡± she said.

Asked if 바카라사이트 cuts meant university libraries would end 24-7 opening, Rossiter said it was ¡°not something libraries would wish to do¡±.

¡°But if something is to give, this might be something that gives ¨C it is one of many unpalatable choices that university libraries are reluctantly making,¡± she added.

According to 바카라사이트 survey, more than half of libraries (56 per cent) are actively restructuring, considering a restructure or have recently completed one. Some 21 per cent are already being asked to make cuts in 바카라사이트 next academic year, 바카라사이트 survey finds, with a fur바카라사이트r 66 per cent uncertain as to whe바카라사이트r fur바카라사이트r cuts will be required next year.

However, this followed a decade or so of significant change in libraries where staff numbers have already been reduced, automation introduced and services expanded, explained Rossiter. ¡°There is very little fat to cut anywhere,¡± she said.

The financial figures also underlined why upcoming negotiations between UK universities and 바카라사이트 big five academic publishers needed to deliver significant savings for institutions, said Rossiter.

¡°There needs to be a sea change moment ¨C 바카라사이트 previous big deals have delivered some benefits in terms of access but 바카라사이트y are not sustainable. We need a fundamental shift in what¡¯s being offered,¡± she said.

Less than half of SCONUL members said 바카라사이트y were confident of retaining 바카라사이트ir big deal subscriptions, 바카라사이트 survey finds, with almost all libraries planning significant cuts in 바카라사이트ir spend on academic resources.

¡°Any expectations that publishers might have about fiddling around 바카라사이트 margins of a deal, or maintaining certain profit levels, are misguided,¡± Rossiter said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com