By Glenn Yoder

As next month’s budget meetings approach, students have spoken out to increase Snell Library’s funding, citing out of date books as a main restraint in compiling research.

“I have noticed that the books aren’t in great condition,” said Priya Dixit, a middler history major. “Since we are one of the biggest schools in the city, we should have a better and more reputable selection. The more you advance in a certain major, the more they expect professional and scholarly work. It’s hard to accomplish that when our sources are not professional or scholarly.”

Dean and Director of the University Libraries Edward Warro is on a mission to increase the library’s funding when the budget is made public on Feb. 11. He began perpetuating his plan by presenting personally to the board for the first time last semester. In past years, Warro has been reallocating funds, however this year his intent is to increase the library’s base budget.

“I’m sure something will be allocated, I just don’t know the amount,” Warro said. “There’s a lot of pressure on the university since there’s a lot of areas that have legitimate needs, and the library is certainly one of those. The library, for many years, just didn’t have a large budget. We need to have our base budget increased. Once we get that, we can deal with the small increases. You know, 2 percent or 4 percent or whatever everyone’s getting each year. But we really need a large increase to our base budget to be more competitive.”

The need for a larger base budget stems from the growing price of necessary materials the library must buy each year.

A recent serials review proved that the university is in need of more journals to assist researchers. Since Snell has been limited by a fixed budget with “no substantial increases” in recent years, Warro said, there is less money to go toward the purchase of new books and, as a result, the library has sunk close to the bottom of the list in its rankings with other private school libraries of the same general population.

“Dean Warro is a very strong leader,” said Student Government Association President Michael Romano. “Very strong leaders make it a point to make a case and get access to necessary materials and I think the students were happy to see that he made a case. The library needs to have the flexibility within its budget to handle and directly address student needs.”

Citing the university’s push to become a top 100 university, SGA Vice President for Financial Affairs Michael Benson said the university has lost touch with its greatest consumer — the student.

“The focus of the university has been on expanding its physical footprint, and in doing so the focus of our academic mission was lost,” Benson said. “The presentation of Dean Warro coupled with the academic component proved that we have been underfunding that piece and it is my hope that in the coming fiscal cycle, we’ll revamp … I am confident that over the course of the next couple months or year, the library will be strengthened. Whatever happens, the primary focus of this institution is to learn, the students are paying to come here and learn — and without students there is no budget.”

Vice President for Administration and Finance Larry Mucciolo said many areas of interest would be considered in the next budget cycle.

“As for budget priorities, my view is that you make the investments that will increase the probability of achieving key strategic objective, such as stronger student admissions, increased retention rates or greater levels of sponsored research,” he said. “In the next budget, you will see various allocations that are intended to advance these objectives.”

A larger base budget would not only take care of necessary materials, but also allow the library to buff up special research sections and casual areas.

“The recreational reading section is pretty slim, if there were more recreational reading books that would be great,” said Steve Guerrera, a freshman engineering major and library employee. “I’d say hardcover books for the most part are old, and a lack of funding probably contributes to the issue.”

Despite the lack of funding, Warro said there are a lot of positive happenings in the library.

Technology, like virtual book catalogs, attracts more students, along with many aids that are offered.

In a report issued this year on instructional statistics, the number of classes taught at the library is up 135 percent, the number of students who came to the library for instruction raised 101 percent and the number of students who took a tour of the library is up 78 percent.

However, if there are more people using the library, the collection must be more comprehensive, Warro said.

“Our statistics of library use are really skyrocketing,” he said. “The more the students know of the library, the more they are going to ask of the library. So, that’s part of the case too, that Northeastern is changing and brighter students doing more work places more demands on the library. I really think the library is making tremendous progress, we’re busier than ever, more students coming in, more use, more technology, and if we could just increase the number of materials that we get for students, we’d be in so much better shape.”

Despite all the improvements within the library, Snell is still in need of funding. However, Warro said that after two and a half years, his case has been made.

“One thing I want to be careful of is that yes, we are behind [our competitors],” he said. “But I’ve spent a lot of time working with the Faculty Senate, working with the Library Advisory Board, working with the Student Advisory Board, working with the Provost’s Office, and explaining this, so it’s not like nobody knows this is a problem. I think the university has come to understand that this is a legitimate need, and that’s why the Faculty Senate said we should get a couple more million dollars over the next couple years … there’s a general understanding that this is a need.”

Romano said Warro has made the necessary impact to acquire what the library needs.

“Will the library receive the funding it needs to operate on the level of a world class university? No. But has Dean Warro impacted the campus climate this year as far as his budget is concerned, in spelling out what he needs to service the university? Yes,” he said. “Resources are very tight, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that there needs to be a standard level of service for students’ need to optimize their experience as students. I don’t believe he’ll secure an excess amount of funding, but he’s made an impact.”