INFORMATION RESOURCES

One of the most important resources in support of teaching and research is the library. The library provides collections on campus as well as providing access to documents and databases from other collections around the province and around the world.

Commentary:

Total library materials expenditures over the 5-year period from 1996/97 to 2000/01 have trended up slightly and are 13% higher than they were in 1996/97. However, given continuing rapid escalation in prices and dollar devaluation, this represents a continuing erosion in purchasing power.
Expenditures on serials follow the same pattern as for total expenditures, but the number of serial subscriptions contunes to fall steadily. For the past 3 years, one time expenditures have dropped to offset the increase in serial expenditures.
Carleton's library expenditures, once higher than the provincial average, continue to fall behind the provincial average. In 1999/00 Carleton's library expenditures were 16.5% below the provincial average.
Carleton is participating in the Canadian National Site Licensing Project. This project, involving 64 universities, was supported by an initial grant of $20 million over 3 years from the Canada Foundation for Innovation with matching funds from provincial agencies and participating institutions. The project is making available a large number of electronic journals that can be accessed from across campus. Additionally, the Library has entered into many other agreements to obtain access to electronic resources.