Message from the Interim Dean
As I look out my window, it is a sunny, gorgeous first day of fall. This issue of Browse, similarly, provides an inspiring overview of library news, collections, services, and individuals. With the start of the semester, we are seeing many students return to the libraries and use our services. In addition to borrowing books and searching databases, as Brian McManus, head of Access Services, notes in this issue, WSU students are eagerly checking out laptops for the semester.
Every day of the year, even in periods when the WSU Libraries appear quiet, our research community constantly consults library collections, particularly through the online access we provide to scholarly journals. The use of these materials is staggering. According to numbers gathered by Joel Cummins, head of collections, WSU researchers downloaded 1,882,721 articles last year, or 5,158 articles every day. The heavy utilization of our collections is one reason we find it particularly challenging to cancel journal subscriptions. For the last few years, we have largely postponed journal subscription reductions. However, given the increasing costs charged by publishers and flat budgets, we must make difficult decisions regarding our subscriptions this year and next. As an organization, we love to support research at WSU at all levels with superb collections, but we also realize that we must be good stewards of the financial resources entrusted to us. To balance our collections this fiscal year, we recently cancelled $175,000 in subscriptions. This year, we will also limit monograph purchases except for faculty requests and e-books. One bright note among these reductions: Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we intend to spend $75,000 in gift funds on books and other library collections.
In addition to our subscriptions and book purchasing, we have collected rare books, unpublished manuscripts, and university archives for more than a century. Housed in Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, these collections are available not only to scholars but also to the general public. Please reach out if you would like to spend time with our amazing collections. Michael Fox’s guest essay tells the stories behind the important photographs in the Nash Collection in MASC. The Nash Collection was largely unknown until we scanned it and made it available online. Similar work in collection digitization and community engagement is currently underway, as described in the story on the national Council on Library and Information Resources grant to WSU’s Center for Digital Scholarship and Curation and MASC. For me personally, the story of the Shields diary and endowment reminds me of the first work trip I took to Dayton, Washington, 25 years ago (gulp) in a rented van to meet Robert Shields and move the longest diary in the world from his home to Holland Library.
I mentioned in my previous column about the move of the WSU Press to the Pullman libraries. One of the most important steps is complete: the successful transfer of the press’ cost center and budget codes. We also have office space prepared for editor-in-chief Linda Bathgate and marketing/promotions coordinator Caryn Lawton and are planning to move the WSU Press website, books, and files to the Libraries in October. On my desk, I have a copy of their latest book, “Celebrating Palouse Country” by Richard Scheuerman and John Clement with a forward by Alexander McGregor. This gorgeous book tells the stories of the Palouse country and includes stunning photographs. Careful readers will also see WSU Libraries’ collections cited throughout the book.
Hope to see you in the libraries, or engage with us online. With appreciation for your interest in the WSU Libraries,
Trevor