Ms. Dana Rooks joined the Budget and Facilities Committee to discuss the library’s ongoing fund raising effort, the current library construction plans, and the future needs of the Anderson Library.

Summary of the Library and Honors College Project

The proposed project will expand the library from its current 300,000 square feet to 455,000 square feet.  Library space will increase about 135,000 square feet while the Honors College will occupy another 20,000 square feet of new space.  The total project cost of $45 million includes construction costs as well as funds for shelving, furniture, computers, and electronic infrastructure.  The $45.0 million does not include moneys for new volumes or library professional staff.

A new wing will be added to the south side of the current library building facing Wheeler Street.  (See the included drawings.)  The library will also receive a new face and new entrance.  There are currently no detailed floor plans available, but the new space will include stacks, student meeting rooms, student carrels, a food service area in the lobby, and two new centralized service desk areas in order to more efficiently use library staff.

Architectural plans were solicited in April 2000.  The final plans will go to the Regents and the Coordinating board in August 2001.  Ground breaking is expected in March 2002 and project completion is expected in August 2004.  The construction time will be extended so that the library may continue to function during the construction.   Limiting noise and avoiding interruption of library services requires a longer construction time.
 

The currently committed $37.0 million will allow design and construction to begin immediately.  The residual moneys required for shelving, furniture, and other equipment will be raised concurrently with the construction.

As previously indicated, the current project does not include the purchase of new volumes or the recruitment of new staff.  The 1999 ARL data included with this report indicate that even more funds will be needed to eliminate severe shortfalls in library materials and staff.

The ratios at the bottom of the table are of particular relevance.  A comparison of the University of Houston and Texas Tech University is instructive.

These figures indicate that, although the current construction project will alleviate space shortfalls, more funds are required for staff and collections if we are to compare with peer institutions.

The library administration has also outlined their Tier I goals in the left of the table.  Total library expenditures will need to increase about fifty percent from the current level of $10,954,370 to $15,428, 247 to achieve estimated Tier I service levels.  Per student expenditures will also increase from $339 to about $478: students will directly benefit from the new Tier I moneys in terms of library resources and service.

Tier I status will also require the expansion of library services to meet the needs of new faculty.  The impact of Tier I on new faculty positions is of course uncertain.  The library
ARL table suggests that at least 200 new tenure track faculty positions would be required to compare with peer institutions.

Although Tier I new faculty estimates are variable, the library does have contingency plans which include two significant elements.  First, new collections will be congruent with new faculty hires--more historians will imply more history books, etc.  Second, the library figures that each new faculty position will require about $15,000 more per year in annual library expenditures to maintain a library infrastructure commensurate with the research university mission.
 
In closing the committee would like to offer special thanks to Dana Rooks and Judy Myers for their invaluable contribution to the committee’s business.
 

Library Comparisons (To display chart click here)   M. D. Anderson Library (sketches of addition)