Academic libraries have a long history of advocating for additional funding for their collections. One strategy is to partner with a Faculty Senate Library Committee (FSLC) to take on the cause. In Spring 2011 OSU Libraries began this process by presenting our FSLC with a range of data they could use to tell our story to the Faculty Senate, campus administration, and other stakeholders. We will continue to work with them to advocate for our collections budget. As we explore these issues for our campus, larger questions come up. Which data best promotes libraries? What are additional strategies to pique campus stakeholders’ interest in a library's success? How can assessment data be used to strengthen our case for a better budget? Should libraries focus on our diminished purchasing power or our increased partnerships with faculty?

1. Shared advocacy through
data – looking beyond the
high cost of journals
by Jane Nichols & Andrea Wirth
Oregon State University Libraries
Charleston Conference 2011

2. Making the case…
0 Data shows we’re good stewards of current budget-
what we have gets used well and we let go of what is
not needed
0 We have a variety of data that shows where we’re not
able to fulfill campus research & instruction needs
0 More is required to meet campus aspirations

3. Invitation
0 Campus faculty appointed to
work with library administration
0 Build a case for improving
collections budget using data

4. Faculty Senate
Library Committee
Learn more! http://oregonstate.edu/senate/committees/library/index.html

5. Inspiration from others
0 Who are the patrons/what do they
need and use? (Queens Library)
0 Do we spend the $$ we have wisely?
(University of Victoria)
0 Do our resources match curricular
changes and institutional directions?
(Saint Xavier University)
0 Story telling and example “plots”
(ER&L 2011)
“Lightbulb, in Glass and Chocolate” JanneM on Flickr

6. Data available
Use-based Budget
0 ILL services 0 Peer comparisons
0 Scan & Deliver 0 Projecting Rising Costs
0 Local Journal Utilization (eg. Curricular changes)
Report (LJUR)
0 Circulation Collection Gaps
0 E-resources use 0 Wishlist
0 New program reviews
0 LibQual+ comments

7. Scan & Deliver
Most Requested Print Title 5/10-5/2011 Number of Requests
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 165
Journal of Wildlife Management 155
Journal of Consulting and Clinical 109
Psychology
Journal of Counseling Psychology 82
Psychological Bulletin 82

8. Projecting Rising Costs
0 Price increases (do we need to say
more?)
0 New tools (ex. Summon)
0 Support for new models of publishing
0 New faculty = new research areas
0 Change in student headcount/FTE
0 Curricular changes
0 What did we forget?

9. PsycArticles
Level Full-Time APA Data Fee
Equivalents
5 15,000-19,999 $20,775
6 20,000-24,999 $27,275
7 25,000-59,999 $28,325
8 60,000+ Contact APA

10. Category 1 reviews
0 New program development process
requires library input
0 Individually, collection and service
evaluation for a particular group of
users
0 Collectively, can provide insight into
collection (and service) strengths and
gaps

11. Category 1 proposals with library funding costs 2009-April 2011
Cost Cost
Program Resource (initial) (ongoing) Year
Online Encyclopedias and
Earth Sciences (BS) Nature Climate Change $12,600 $ 3,500 2011
Business Admin (MS) Ebook funding (PDA) $ 2,000 $ 2,000 2011
Public Policy (PhD) PAIS database $10,400 $ 10,400 2011
Communication (MA) Books and Journals $ 5,433 $ 5,433 2010
Energy Engineering (BS) Books and Journals $ 5,400 $ 5,400 2010
Books and 1 journal
Medical Humanities (Cert) recommended by faculty $ 1,695 $ 655. 2010
F/W administration (MS) databases and ebooks $ 5,350 $ 5,350 2010
Sustainability dual degree
(BA/BS) AASHE membership $ 1,500 $ 1,500 2010
Natural Resources (MS) journals, databases, books $21,500 $ 9,500 2009
Total $65,878 $ 43,738

12. LibQual+
0 Foster a culture of excellence in providing library service
0 Help libraries better understand user perceptions of
library service quality
0 Collect and interpret library user feedback systematically
over time
0 Provide libraries with comparable assessment information
from peer institutions
0 Identify best practices in library service
0 Enhance library staff members' analytical skills for
interpreting and acting on data

13. “the people are great, the collections are spotty. I would like
more electronic resources -- but good job getting JSTOR II!!”
“Library service overall is
very good. It is critical to
maintain high numbers of
online journals. In the
sciences and engineering, if
I can't look up an article on
my computer and print it
on my printer, that article
does not exist to me. Have
online access to journal
articles is my #1 priority.”
Learn more!
http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/handle/1957/22087
http://ica.library.oregonstate.edu/subject-guide/1246-LibQual

14. “The most valuable service that the library offers me
is access to online databases of journals and technical
articles. I am very satisfied with the library website
search capabilities, I just wish we had more articles. I
am successful at finding a lot, but there are also a lot
that I can't access because we don't have
subscriptions to them."
"The library service is
improving...it was very
frustrating to do a “The library's biggest
research project remotely flaw is the lack of
with a paper due in a week ebooks. Everyone has
and not be able to access smartphones, ereaders,
information soon enough.“ & tablets & we want
ebooks for loan!"

15. FSLC Reactions
0 Status—compare OSU to schools that faculty perceive
as “completely inferior”
0 Qualitative comments
0 Informal peer comparisons
http://www.flickr.com/photos/striatic/2192192956/

16. Telling your story
0 Audience-who is your story for?
0 Scope-tailor details to audience
0 Outlet-where will your audience encounter your
story?

17. Discussion questions
0 Which data best promotes libraries and tells our
story?
0 How can collections assessment data be used to
strengthen our case for a better budget?
0 Should libraries focus on diminished purchasing
power or increased partnerships with faculty?
0 What resonates with you?

18. References
0 Kusik, J. P., & Vargas, M. A. (2009). Implementing a "Holistic" Approach to
Collection Development. [Article]. Library Leadership & Management, 23(4),
186-192.
0 Levine-Clark, M., Brooks-Kieffer, J., & McDonald, J. (2011). Making Data
Work: Telling your story with usage statistics. Three presentations given at
the Electronic Resources and Libraries Conference, Austin, TX. A write-up of
the session is available at: http://www.electroniclibrarian.com/past-
conferences/2011-conference/monday-february-28th-2011#04
0 Murphy, D. O., & Keller, J. A. (2011). Value by the Numbers: Using
Performance Metrics in Libraries. Journal of the Library Administration &
Management, 7(2), 16-22.
0 Oregon State University Faculty Senate. (2011). “Library Committee”.
http://oregonstate.edu/senate/committees/library/index.html
0 Wooley, W. T. (1983). Motherhood, hard times, politics and the University of
Victoria library. Canadian Library Journal, 40, 201-203.

19. Thanks!
Contact Information
Jane Nichols
Collection Development Librarian for Social Sciences &
Humanities
Oregon State University Libraries
jane.nichols@oregonstate.edu
Andrea Wirth
Collection Development Librarian
Oregon State University Libraries
andrea.wirth@oregonstate.edu