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By some measures, Smith’s library is
the largest of any liberal arts college in the country. This is an area of considerable
historic strength for the college but also an area of substantial annual expense
during a period in which the role of libraries is shifting in important ways. Smith’s
library facilities consist of the main Neilson Library plus three branches and special
collections. The library is also part of the Five College consortium.
To achieve savings in the libraries, the plan calls
for:
- Forgoing an increase above core inflation in the acquisitions budget for two
years, and reducing the base acquisitions budget by more than 6 percent
- Consolidating one of three branch libraries, the Josten Library (music, dance,
theatre), into Neilson Library*
- Achieving efficiencies in technical services support through Five College collaboration,
as described in a recent letter from the
Five College Directors
Smith’s current investment in Information Technology
Services is somewhat below the mean of peer institutions. Nevertheless, it is a high-cost
area and an important source of potential efficiencies and collaboration. The Five
College IT directors are advancing a number of potential collaborations.
To achieve savings in Information Technology Services,
the plan calls for:
- Increasing Five College collaboration, including arrangements to share an administrative
position to fill a technology vacancy in the Five Colleges, Inc., staff
- Reducing equipment costs by increasing the typical computer replacement cycle
from four to five years and reducing the budget for replacement of technology infrastructure
- Reducing faculty grant funding for using technology in the classroom
- Closing the Jahnige computer resource center and CFLAC computer lab in Wright
Hall, consolidating these computer resources with those in Seelye Hall
- Making a range of operational savings in areas such as campus telecommunications,
deployment of new technologies and technology support
* On April 27, 2009, in response to community feedback,
President Carol Christ announced an alternative plan that retains Josten as a branch of
the library system but with reduced hours during the academic year.
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Message from
the President
Introduction
Employee
Compensation
Student-to-Faculty
Ratio
Comprehensive
Fee
Revenue
Facilites & Utilities
Study
Abroad
Libraries &
Information
Technology
Services
Administrative,
Student & Academic Support
Revenue
Generation
Investment
Required
Appendix
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