Anticipated OhioLINK funding shortfall could drastically impact research at BGSU

Through the collective purchasing action of OhioLINK, academic libraries in Ohio, including University Libraries at BGSU, have expanded buying power in electronic research and reference content. But as part of the Ohio higher education appropriation, OhioLINK expects capital funding via the upcoming 2005-06 capital bill before the General Assembly to be below the level of its previous two-year budget.

In order to combat the anticipated shortfall of more than $500,000 to more than $1 million, OhioLINK has cut subscriptions to 490 low-use electronic journals for 2005. To access this list of cancelled journals, visit http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/whatsnew.html.

OhioLINK funds are spent in combination with library funds to provide a wide array of resources. However, library budgets across the state also face serious budget limitations. In fiscal year 2003-04, University Libraries expended more than 30 percent of the library materials budget to support OhioLINK resources.

What would research at BGSU be like without OhioLINK?
• Faculty and students would not have rapid access to a statewide catalog of 43.5 million books and other items. Instead, they would have to travel for research materials, wait up to three weeks for interlibrary loan items or make do with the resources available at the University Libraries.

• Faculty and students would not have instantaneous, electronic access to the more than 6,000 titles and 5.45 million scholarly articles available through the OhioLINK Electronic Journal Center, as it would not exist.

• There would be no Digital Media Center serving the state; no access to more than 19,000 e-books, no statewide online chat reference service and no statewide Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, or fewer resources available, such as the 100-plus databases, and at greater cost.

What can you do?
• Call, write or email your state legislators and express support for OhioLINK. (See Contact With State/Federal Legislators and Governmental Agencies Policy in the Commonly Shared Employment Policies Handbook for BGSU on the Executive Vice President's Web site at www.bgsu.edu/offices/execvp/page8107.html.)

• Find out more about the Support OhioLINK funding campaign at www.ohiolink.edu/supportohiolink/.

* Support the University Libraries budget. Contact your library dean's administrative office at 2-2856 with questions or to determine how you can help.