7 February 2005

Provost Jay Grimes

Box 5002

Dear Provost Grimes,

We have been directed by Academic Council to advise you concerning the plans that were formulated regarding the Gulf Park campus library.  The duly elected members of Academic Council believe that the library is absolutely fundamental to teaching, research, and service.  Any plans to significantly alter, even for a relatively brief period of time, a campus library should be carefully considered by the curriculum committees of each of the colleges, with recommendations forwarded to Academic Council and Graduate Council.  The potential impact of such acts on curriculum and curriculum development are enormous.  Only after each of these bodies has considered the issue and made recommendations should specific plans be drawn up and considered.

The library budget here on the Hattiesburg Campus has been flat for many years.  Due to increases in costs of acquisitions, this essentially means that the library budget has been effectively cut, precisely when that budget should be expanding to meet the expected expanding student population.  Our journals have been slashed, and we are not acquiring the books that we think are critical to meet demands in classrooms and for research (for students as well as for faculty).  The library has been searching for creative ways to overcome the budget crisis, but this is not enough.  The libraries at USM deserve support from this administration.  We understand that the budget for the coast library still has money they are spending for acquisitions, indicating at least some level of expansion of collections there.  The plan to remove the primary space designated for collections and for study suggests to us that the administration is not placing priorities on teaching and research.  Library space is, by its nature, expensive.  We believe other space on the Gulf Park campus should have been sought for use as classroom space. 

Finally, library holdings and space are essential in our accrediting processes.  To suddenly remove significant space from the Gulf Park library may endanger our SACS accreditation, and may have negative effects on accredited programs through other agencies. 

The members of Academic Council believe that this university cannot afford to potentially jeopardize accreditation, nor can it afford to send the message to the faculty, students, potential students, and community that this administration does not hold university libraries as key resources that demand the highest priorities

Sincerely,

Amy L. Young, Chair                                                   Jeff Evans, Chair Elect

Academic Council                                                        Academic Council

cc:        Dr. David Beckett, President, Faculty Senate

            Dr. William Powell, President-elect, Faculty Senate

            Dr. Robert Bateman, Chair, Council of Chairs

            Dr. Ed Mann, Chair, Graduate Council

            Kay Wall, University Librarian