quote: Originally posted by: stinky cheese man "there's no evidence that the library is the problem. frankly, all libraries are having budget problems."
The problem is, those libraries were way ahead of USM to start with. USM doesn't even qualify for a library organization that includes Univ. of AL-Birmingham, UNC Charlotte, East Carolina, UNC Greensboro, Ole Miss, MSU, and tons of other schools, some of which I'd never even heard of, all of which spend more on their libraries yearly than USM does. In dollars spent, USM has been way, way behind for years. The cuts are not from okay to bad, but from not much, to nothing. You can't support doctoral programs without a decent library. In my area, the collection would have been okay for undergrads, though there were gapping holes at every turn, and there were graduate programs. Interlibrary loan only goes so far for people who need to do certain kinds of research.
since i've been here (early '80s) the library has been inadequate. funds have never been good. the library issue is a "same-old-same-old" one. i've seen years ago when doctoral programs got fewer library funds than those with bachelors only. it is an ongoing fight to get good library resources.
With all due respect, you need to visit a university that has a decent library. Clemson has the worst-funded library of any ACC school, yet by USM standards ours would look palatial.
If Monte Piliawsky's account in Exit 13 is correct, USM has had unusually inadequate book and journal collections for a couple of generations.
been at some of the best. if your basis for judging USM's library is Exit 13 then i think that speaks for itsself. i know it could be light years better. don't misunderstand me.