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OSU Library by the Numbers

August 21, 2007

For Immediate Release

STILLWATER - Oklahoma State University has been a member of the prestigious Association for Research Libraries (ARL) since 1963. Association membership is restricted to the 123 largest research libraries in the United States and Canada.

“The ARL collects a variety of comparative data from its members. Those measurements confirm Oklahoma State University is a good steward of our financial resources,” Dean of Libraries Sheila Grant Johnson said. “We may have a smaller budget compared to other ARL libraries, but we still managed to rank 32nd in gross volumes added and 20th in current serials (journals, magazine, etc.).

“When you consider the percent of total expenditures devoted to new books, journals and database subscriptions, we are 19th in the ARL. We feel we are doing an excellent job serving our campus,” she said.

Annually, the ARL collects data on the 113 academic members, and compiles the Membership-Criteria Index. For 2005-06, OSU ranks 62nd in the Membership Criteria Index.

For the first time, the ARL released a new Expenditures-Focused Index. The new Index differs from the traditional Membership-Criteria Index by concentrating solely on expenditures and staffing while omitting annual growth and collection size. OSU ranks 101 in the new Expenditures-Focused Index.

Johnson said, “Our budgeting strategies are designed to maximize the number of books, journals and databases available to our students and faculty. Frankly, we want the most ‘bang for our buck.’ In my view, the traditional Index does a better job of measuring that.”

To learn more about the Association of Research Libraries visit www.arl.org.

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