Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol. 40 Number 4. March 21 1977

Save Your Library

Save Your Library

The recent reduction in library hours and the closure of the Biology library has rightly incensed many people on campus and now it's possible for students to become involved in a constructive way.

At last weeks S.R.C. an action Committee was empowered to investigate and report on the cutting of University hours The committee will be organized by S.R. C. Education Officer, Robert Moore Jones. It will be made up of members of the University library, academic staff S. R. C. members and any other people who wish to be involved.

At last weeks S.R.C. it was apparent that some students thought the Library was responsible for the present cutbacks. This is untrue. The responsibility lies solely with the University Grants Committee and the University Council.

The Grants Committee allocate a set sum to the Library each year. Any money allocated to the Library is absorbed in two main areas, salaries and the purchase of books. At the present time the Library is desperately short of money The book budget is grossly inadequate, having been made more so by the rising inflation of the previous years and last years devaluation. This is highlighted by the Library's fixed commitment to the purchase of periodicals and journals. Maintaining this commitment has meant in the last year 2/3 of the available book budget has gone in that alone.

As early as the middle of last year it was found the five year grant made at the end of 1974 would not be sufficient to maintain the library's rate of periodical and book buying. Last year the Grants Committee decided not to allocate any extra money to ease the library s position. Hence the present cutbacks reluctantly introduced by the library staff, in an attempt to help restore the library's buying power.

The greatest cuts in hours appear to be during the May and August vacations. Library hours from Monday to Friday will be reduced five hours each night when the library closes at 6pm instead of 11pm. Friday night hours have also been cut by five hours by closing the library at 6pm instead of 11 pm.

The library are aware that the cutbacks are inconveniencing people (especially the many part time students at Victoria) but these were considered the least drastic measures open to them.

The savings resulting from the cuts will only amount to some five to six thousand dollars per annum. If one takes into account the millions invested in the establishment of the library as it is, savings in terms of a few thousand seem ridiculous especially if weighed against deteriorating services.

If the University continues to ignore the library's plight things can only get worse.

At the present time a decision has yet to be reached on the future of the Geology library, it could well suffer the same fate as the Biology library.

There is no question that these are temporary changes. It will not be until the end of the quinquineum (1979) that the University's Grants Committee will have to renew the library budget. So the cuts are here to stay, and it is anybody's guess what other economising measures the library will be forced to take over the next two years against inevitable rising costs.

Those present at next Tuesdays meeting will have to decide what their priorities are. One thing is certain the University Grants Committee and the University Council must re evaluate their priorities.

A sympathetic attitude is not good enough if library services are allowed to deteriorate further.