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Susan EbertzAssistant Professor of Bibliography and Academic
ResearchReu Memorial Library
Wartburg Theological Seminary&
Daniel LaValla, Director of Library ServicesBiblical Seminary Library
Overcoming Budget & Staffing Challenges for (Sm)All Libraries in our Post-Recession Economy
June 20, 2013
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Overcoming Budget & Staffing Challenges for (Sm)All Libraries in our Post-Recession Economy
Biblical Seminary – Profile: Stand alone seminary Non-denominational Protestant ~270 FTE for FY 2013 (~30% since
`08) M.Div., MA, MAC, and DMin Added an accredited Extension Site in
2009June 20, 2013
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Overcoming Budget & Staffing Challenges for (Sm)All Libraries in our Post-Recession Economy
Biblical Seminary – Profile: Added an accredited extension site in
2009 No online programs, 15 online courses Almost all courses are hybridized
(classroom with online components) Most students are regional
commuters (New York-Washington, DC corridor)June 20, 2013
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Overcoming Budget & Staffing Challenges for (Sm)All Libraries in our Post-Recession Economy
Recent History: August 2008 – Restructure
Faculty/Staff FYs 2009 & ‘10 - lost 50% of library staff
4.0 FTE to 2.0 FTE FY2010 – 35% Acquisition Budget General 33% faculty/staff reduction
outside of library
June 20, 2013
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Overcoming Budget & Staffing Challenges for (Sm)All Libraries in our Post-Recession Economy
Recent History: Deficit institutional budgets in FYs ‘08
& ‘09 Last 4 FYs institutional budget ended
black Last 3 FYs started increasing library
budget and close to ‘08 levels Staffing still 63% of ‘08 levels (2.5
FTEs)June 20, 2013
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Overcoming Budget & Staffing Challenges for (Sm)All Libraries in our Post-Recession Economy
Library Usage: Impact of cohort format Impact of new extension site Impact of senior seminar projects
June 20, 2013
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Seminary
Stand alone seminary ~150 FTE MDiv, MA, MA – Diaconal Ministry TEEM Online
1/3
June 20, 2013
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Recent History
Spring 2009 – retrenchment Last 3 years: in the black
June 20, 2013
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Distance Learning: impact to seminary
Budget: In the past: most students residential
Commuter students stay on campus Fewer students on campus
Income from auxiliary services More students vs. more students on
campus
June 20, 2013
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Distance Learning: Impact to library
Library staffing: work-study students Fewer suitable work-study students
More eresources needed Balance higher cost of ebooks and
hard copy books
June 20, 2013
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Library staffing
Librarian
Paraprofessional Student s FTE
Prior to Spring 2009
1 2 (40-hour) + 1 (32-hour)
80 hours 5.8
2009-2013 1 1 (24-hour) + 1 (8-hour)
80 hours 3.8
2013 - 1 2 (s0-hour) + 1 (8-hour)
80 hours 4.2
June 20, 2013
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Work Study Students
No students available: January: one week intensive June: two weeks of intensives July: one week intensive July – August: six-weeks of Greek
June 20, 2013
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Overcoming Budget & Staffing Challenges for (Sm)All Libraries in our Post-Recession Economy
Priorities! Customer satisfaction is top priority! Close 2nd: Do not operate beyond
staff’s total capacity! Best to do fewer things well than to
do too many things inadequately! Support & assist Dean & Development
officers in whatever ways you can – no matter how small it seems.June 20, 2013
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Overcoming Budget & Staffing Challenges for (Sm)All Libraries in our Post-Recession Economy
Decide services you can and cannot provide:
Hours open to public Blog posting Online tutorials & no new ones Limited lib guides Shelf reading ceased No social media or IM services
June 20, 2013
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Overcoming Budget & Staffing Challenges for (Sm)All Libraries in our Post-Recession Economy
Decide services you can and cannot do well:
In-class instruction ILL Reference by phone and by
appointment Coffee bar & snacks (makes small
profit) 98% customer satisfaction with library
staff and service received
June 20, 2013
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Overcoming Budget & Staffing Challenges for (Sm)All Libraries in our Post-Recession Economy
Directors & SupervisorsMonitor and Protect Staff Morale:
Don’t let salaried staff work unpaid overtime – comp their time within same pay-period.
Monitor fluctuations in workloads Help prioritize during high workload
periods Communicate regularlyJune 20, 2013
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Overcoming Budget & Staffing Challenges for (Sm)All Libraries in our Post-Recession Economy
Decide services you can and cannot do well:
Ceased customization of online catalog
No eBook purchases Copy cataloging only by
paraprofessionals Detailed staff procedures manual
listed in steps so can be done by anyone
Cross-training!!!!
June 20, 2013
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Overcoming Budget & Staffing Challenges for (Sm)All Libraries in our Post-Recession Economy
Volunteers: Where do they come from? High school students Unemployed professional librarians Library students/grads needing
experience Rehab hospitals (basic tasks) Those wondering if they want to be
librarians Local churches
June 20, 2013
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Volunteers: what they’ve done
Librarian on vacation did original cataloging
Library student cataloged special collections during practicum
Student spouse & mother organize archival material
Inventory, general circulation tasks, shelving
June 20, 2013
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Overcoming Budget & Staffing Challenges for (Sm)All Libraries in our Post-Recession Economy
Volunteer Appreciation: Require an interview Provide volunteers with title & clear
job descriptions involving ongoing projects
Mutual commitment to weekly schedules
Professional & Skills Development Give them a sense of accomplishmentJune 20, 2013
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Overcoming Budget & Staffing Challenges for (Sm)All Libraries in our Post-Recession Economy
Volunteer Appreciation: Encourage & praise, help them see
importance of the task Offer institutional email address Frequently forward job openings from
library listservs and websites Gift cards – gas, food, movies Treat them to a meal
June 20, 2013
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Overcoming Budget & Staffing Challenges for (Sm)All Libraries in our Post-Recession Economy
Small Group Discussions: Assess your library’s workload to staff
capacity. What do you do best? Inadequately?
If your library’s staff is stretched too thin, where would you begin to trim services or restructure?
How are you utilizing/appreciating volunteers?June 20, 2013