Optimally, the Library's materials budget is balanced so that 50% is
spent on printed journals, 25% on electronic resources, and 25% on
books. A portion of the 25% allocated for books is set aside so that
library faculty may purchase reference books and other books essential
to the undergraduate and graduate curriculum. The apportionments
mentioned
above are for mandatory and recurring expenses and as such must be
budgeted each fiscal year. After the mandatory allocations have been
made, the remainder of the budget is distributed to academic departments
so that classroom faculty may purchase books pertinent to their
disciplines. The departmental allocations are based on a formula used in
many academic libraries1. Allocation by formula assures that departments
are treated fairly and uniformly in the distribution of limited
resources.Four-Factor Weighted Allocation Formula:
The base amount is divided equally by four. Each of four factors is
distributed based on:
Factor A. Base Support.
Each academic department and/or recognized, separate academic program is
given an equal share of the Base Support Factor. The total allocation
for Factor A is divided by the number of academic departments/programs
allocating an equal portion of this factor to each department/program.
Factor A provides base support for all departments to assure that small
departments receive an adequate level of support in relation to larger
departments.
Factor B. Student Credit Hour Production. Departments/programs
are allocated money based on their SCH production from the previous
academic year. The formula is weighted so that lower division SCH is
factored by 0.5; upper division by 1.0, and graduate by 1.5. Factor B
takes into consideration that more library resources are needed to
support higher level courses; therefore, more weight is given to upper
division and graduate SCH.
Factor C. Publishing Intensity.
Allocations for this factor are weighted by the publishing intensity
within disciplines for the previous calendar year as reported by an
annual national publishing survey. Factor C takes into account the
differing publishing volume among the disciplines. Disciplines which
produce more books receive a higher portion of the allocation.
Factor D. Price by Discipline.
Allocations for this factor are weighted by the average price of a book
within disciplines for the previous calendar year as reported by an
annual national publishing survey. Factor D takes into account the
varying book prices by discipline. Disciplines which have higher average
cost per book receive a greater portion of the allocation.
EXAMPLE:
Available funds=$100,000
$100,000/4 = $25,000 for each factor
Factor A = $25,000/# of departments
Factor B = $25,000x(total SCH/departmental SCH)
Factor C = $25,000x(total of publishing intensity/department's
publishing intensity)
Factor D = $25,000x(total of average book price/department's average
book price)
Departmental Allocation = A+B+C+D
1 Futas, Elizabeth, ed. Library Acquisition Policies
and Procedures, 2nd ed. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Pres, 1984. |
