Professors were given a list of 108 subscriptions and 12 databases that would no longer be available on Jan. 17 through Dacus Library due to Winthrop’s current campus budget planning process.
The subscriptions and databases that were cut was decided by a combination of factors.
“Our database cuts are informed by user statistics of the databases and other resources in question, which we balance with our annual materials allocations, the existence of alternative databases that we retain subscriptions to, and program accreditation requirements,” said Dean of Dacus Library Kaetrena Kendrick.
Professors were not informed on what would be cut exactly—just that there would be cuts. Some said they wish they were more involved in this decision.
“What I wish had happened is that there had been a straightforward conversation with the faculty where they told us the dollar amount that needed to be cut from the budget and how much each subscription cost, and we could have given some input,” said associate professor of political science and political science library liaison Brandon Ranallo-Benavidez. “It would have been nice if we could’ve worked together instead of just telling the faculty what was getting cut.”
Ranallo-Benavidez also expressed concern about the way that these subscriptions and databases were chosen.
“I don’t know what information that they actually have on what people do and don’t use all the time,” Ranallo-Benavidez said. “Some students access the internet through a VPN, we have people who get in and download a database one time so it might not look like they are using it very often, because they download it to their own software package. So they would only log in to it once, but they might actually use it all the time.”
Other professors were less concerned about the cuts and don’t see them interfering with student information gathering going forward.
“At least they got rid of the ones that were being used the least,” said associate professor of political science Kim Hye-Sung. “It’s unfortunate, but as a professor of political science, I don’t think it will have much impact.”
According to Kendrick, these cuts aren’t just specific to Winthrop.
“These cuts were a direct outcome of our current campus budget planning process,” said Kendrick. “They also reflect a phenomenon of annual database subscriptions outpacing budget allocations that we are seeing across academia. So this is not unique to Dacus Library.”
Kendrick also suggested ways that students could supplement this lost information and continue on with their research as normal.
“It is very much worth noting that our library faculty also offer great research services, which include helping students and others locate materials,” Kendrick said.
Students will still have access to the library chat service and the ability to book a research consultation with a librarian to find assistance in gathering information. Dacus also offers interlibrary loans to obtain resources that aren’t available there but can be found at other libraries.
