To the Editor:

Re: “A Eulogy to the Physical Sciences Library,” Opinion, March 26

The Physical Sciences Library in Clark Hall will close at the end of 2009. The current budget climate necessitated this decision, and although the physical facility is shutting its doors, the library’s presence will remain as a portal for scholarly resources, a virtual collection and a service staffed by research specialists.

These are challenging times. Although closing facilities is never a desired step, we are committed to maintaining a strong presence in the physical sciences and making sure that the community’s research, teaching and learning needs are fully met. The vast majority of the journal collection in the Physical Sciences Library is already available electronically. The Library will work to extend online access to critical resources through enhanced electronic subscriptions and book digitization. Librarians will continue to offer research and instruction services, as well as support for electronic resources. Heavily used physical collections will be stored on campus in adjacent libraries, with lesser used materials sent to the annex, but readily retrievable.

This decision was made with the support of the deans of the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering, as well as Provost Kent Fuchs. The deans discussed the decision with the department chairs, and some departments have shared this information with their students. Many factors — including circulation figures, number of visitors and reference questions, and the wide availability of online access to resources in the physical sciences — contributed to the decision. Keeping pace with the escalating costs of scholarly resources while maintaining services at 20 different physical locations is no longer a sustainable strategy.

In preparing for the closing, Janet McCue, associate university librarian for all campus libraries, will form a committee of staff, faculty and students to develop a transition strategy for moving forward. Forums will be held to solicit advice and recommendations from the Physical Sciences Library’s core users. The issues of adequate study and collaboration space in Clark Hall will certainly be addressed as will access to course reserves and physical collections.

We welcome the thoughts and input from the physical sciences community at the upcoming forums (watch for announcements from your departments). In addition, please contact Associate University Librarian Janet McCue at jam7@cornell.edu with any questions.

Anne R. Kenney

Carl A. Kroch University Librarian