About 42% of the Libraries' budget is spent on information resources - databases, books, journals, streaming video, etc. Like many WSU departments, the WSU Libraries budget hasn't kept pace with inflation for years.
While budgets have been stagnant, costs are increasing. The average cost of academic books increased from $87.63 in 2013 to $102.65 in 2023. Journal subscription costs have increased between 4% and 6% a year since 2012.
The Libraries participate in consortial purchasing and use multi-year contracts to reduce the impact of price increases on library materials. The Collection Strategies Librarian reviews resource use to identify low-use subscriptions for potential cancellation. The Libraries have gradually shifted from an ownership model to an access model, leasing some content instead of purchasing it. We are also shifting to demand-driven purchasing, making content available and paying for what's actually used instead of trying to predict what people will want.
The Libraries continue to prioritize requests for information resources that support immediate teaching and research needs. Please use the Purchase Request Form if you don't find that what you need is currently in our collections.
|
|---|
Compiled from Table 3 of the Periodical Price Survey articles published in Library Journal every April.
Journal Prices are from Table 3 of the annual Periodical Price Survey, found in these articles:
Bosch, Stephen, and Kittie S. Henderson. (May 1, 2012). "Coping with the Terrible Twins." Library Journal 137(8): 28-32.
Bosch, Stephen, and Kittie S. Henderson. (May 1, 2013). "The Winds of Change." Library Journal 138(8): 28-32.
Bosch, Stephen, and Kittie S. Henderson. (April 15, 2014). "Steps Down the Evolutionary Road." Library Journal 139(7): 32-37.
Bosch, Stephen, and Kittie S. Henderson. (April 15, 2015). "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On." Library Journal 140(7): 30-35.
Bosch, Stephen, and Kittie S. Henderson. (April 15, 2016). "Fracking the Ecosystem." Library Journal 141(7): 32-38.
Bosch, Stephen, and Kittie S. Henderson. (April 15, 2017). "New World, Same Model." Library Journal 142(7): 40-46.
Bosch, Stephen, Barbara Albee, and Kittie Henderson. (April 15, 2018). "Death by 1,000 Cuts." Library Journal 143 (7): 28-36.
Bosch, Stephen, Barbara Albee, and Sion Romaine. (April 2019). "Deal or No Deal." Library Journal 144(3): 34-39.
Bosch, Stephen, Barbara Albee, and Sion Romaine. (April 2020). "Follow the Money." Library Journal 145(4): 36-41.
Bosch, Stephen, Barbara Albee, and Sion Romaine. (April 2021). "The New Abnormal." Library Journal 146(4): 20-25.
Bosch, Stephen, Barbara Albee, and Sion Romaine. (April 2022). "Are We There Yet?" Library Journal 147(4):33-38.
Bosch, Stephen, Sion Romaine, Barbara Albee, and Cynthia M. Elliott. (April 2023). "Going for Gold, Deep in the Red." Library Journal 148 (4):32-37.
Romaine, Sion, Barbara Albee, Cynthia M. Elliott, and Stephen Bosch. (April 2024). "Triple Advantage or Triple Threat." Library Journal 149 (4):18-23.
Book prices are from:
New Book Price and Output Reports 2012/2013 - 2022/2023, all print books profiled in the U.S. or imported into U.S. by GOBI Library Solutions. (Proprietary report)
Budget data is compiled from:
Wichita State University Annual Operating Budget for FY [YYYY], authored by the Budget Office and available on SOAR. Data is for account 102827 Information Resources.
