Passed: May 11, 2011

Sponsor: Library Board Committee

Senate Discussions: May 11, 2011

Resolution to maintain the strength of the Cornell University Library system

Whereas, consistent with our founders’ vision, the library system, both physical and virtual, is the heart of the university; and

Whereas the strength of the library system is equally important for all Cornell colleges, regardless of whether their students and faculty rely primarily on print or on digital materials; and

Whereas the library system will only become more important in years to come as the repository of more traditional forms of knowledge and the institution for developing new forms of knowledge and scholarship in the 21st century; and

Whereas both the hiring and the long term retention of new faculty in the coming years will depend crucially on making provisions for adequate library resources to support their work; and

Whereas pursuant with the University strategic plan, the Cornell University Library Strategic Plan (2011-2015) sets as its first objective “Return the Library to its position among the top ten academic institutions in the Association of Research Libraries in terms of collection support”; and

Whereas our overall level of support for the Library has already dropped vis-à-vis those peer institutions; and

Whereas insufficient university support of annual expenditures for library materials relative to our peers has precipitated this decline.

Therefore, be it resolved that the Faculty Senate strongly urges the university administration through its annual allocations and the development office through its fund raising to provide sufficient funding to the university library system in order to maintain and enhance the physical collection and increase access to digital resources to meet these goals.

Be it further resolved that the administration establish a funding structure that recognizes the integrity of the collection development budget and the integrity of the library operating budget, and which sets funding allocations such that we remain competitive with our peers among the top ten academic institutions in the Association of Research Libraries.