Libraries consolidation
In response to the current budget climate in the state, we in University Libraries are asking ourselves how we might reduce expenses while preserving the quality of our operations. We have considered all of the implications to our services and have come to the conclusion that the consolidation of the Fordham Health Sciences Library with Dunbar Library will help us accomplish this goal. In addition to being responsive to the current budget constraints, this consolidation will also re-purpose space that will be converted into needed classrooms to support our growing enrollment.
The team from the University Libraries is in the process of planning and implementing a consolidation of the Dunbar Library and the Fordham Health Science Library. We are working to integrate the services and collections that are now in two separate libraries, eventually combining them all into the space currently occupied by the Dunbar Library. Your input to this process is greatly appreciated.
This process will begin this spring and may take until June 2010 to complete. Throughout the consolidation we will work to keep disruptions to a minimum in both the Fordham and Dunbar Libraries. We do, however, ask for your patience while our work is under way. Upon completion of this project, the health sciences resources and services previously provided by the Fordham Health Sciences Library will be fully available in the Dunbar Library.
In order to keep everyone informed of our plans and process, the University Libraries will create a blog, available at the University Libraries website, to share information as it becomes available, to receive additional input from you and to respond to any questions you may have.
Our goal is to continue to provide excellent service to all of our students, faculty and staff throughout this transition period and to continue the full support for all of our academic programs, including health sciences, and to emerge stronger and better positioned as a university.
Sincerely,
Stephen Foster, University Librarian
Steven R. Angle, Provost
As a nursing student who uses Fordham an average of 3 times a week, I am very sad to hear that it will be closing. This is the one place on campus that we can go and study in an atmosphere that is conducive to the work we are doing. My biggest concern is that the study rooms in the basement will be closed off. I am hoping that nursing students will be given access through the tunnels to the rooms because that is truly the place that the majority of our studying is done! I can understand the need to combine the libraries but Dunbar has a different atmosphere. I hope that at minimum, the study rooms will remain open and will be accessible by nursing students.
I am surprised at how hush hush this process has been. I just learned of this “consolidation” today. As I write this, maybe 20 or more other students just walked in to Fordham! For me, the Forham library provides the proper study atmosphere, yet I do not have to walk all the way across campus to Dunbar. The computers in the student union are simply not adequate. Students need a large computer lab on the lot 4 side of campus too!
I am struggling to say the least as a nursing student but I want to say thank to all in the Fordham for your help. You have been my saving grace many times and I appreciate it. The Dunbar is nice but it will lack you personal touch. Thank You for everything.