SUBJECT:

Reduced Hours and Other Budget Cut Impacts at UCSD Libraries

The State of California's severe cuts to the University of California's budget have had a significant impact on the UC San Diego campus. At the UCSD Libraries, which depend on state funding for nearly 85% of their budget, funding shortfalls are requiring us to rethink how we deliver resources and services to members of the campus community and other library users.

By the end of fiscal year 2009-10, the Libraries will have absorbed cuts of almost 15% to our operations and collections budgets. As a result, we are planning to implement a number of cost-cutting measures, including: shortening library hours, consolidating service points, slowing down digitization efforts, reducing instruction and classroom support, and reducing our spending for new information resources.

As a first step, effective September 20, we will reduce hours of operation in the Geisel Library Building, the Biomedical Library, CLICS, and the SIO Library, as follows:

* The Geisel Library Building will close at midnight from Sunday to Thursday (instead of 2 a.m.) and will close on Friday at 6 p.m. (instead of 7 p.m.)

* The Biomedical Library will open at noon on Sunday (instead of 10 a.m.) and will close on Friday at 6 p.m. (instead of 8 p.m.)

* CLICS will open on Sunday at noon (instead of 10 a.m.)

* The SIO Library will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday (instead of 8 a.m.-8 p.m.) and on Fridays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (instead of 8 a.m.-6 p.m.). The Library will be closed on Saturday and Sunday (instead of open from 12-5 p.m. both days)

As we continue to consider other strategies to respond to the Libraries' budget cuts, including additional reductions in library hours, our greatest attention remains focused on those information resources and services that are essential to advancing the university's research, teaching, patient care, and public service missions. During the Fall and Winter Quarters, we will be seeking input from the campus community about library resources and services so that we can gain a better understanding of priorities and needs. Budget reductions of this magnitude are challenging for all of us. We at the Libraries appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to address these issues.

For additional information about the impacts of the budget cuts on the UCSD Libraries, please refer to our FAQ at:

http://libraries.ucsd.edu/budgetcutsFAQ/

Brian E. C. Schottlaender The Audrey Geisel University Librarian