Libraries @ Montana State University

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Statistical Profile

FY 2008

MSU Libraries – a foundation of learning for tomorrow's leaders

Expenditures

Materials
Operations
Personnel
Total Expenditures
 $3,786,430
     325,745
   2,271,974
$6,384,149
Average price of processing an item – $25.00
Average cost MSU paid for a book – $51.60

Collection Totals – Renne Library

Books (approximately 5,776 books were purchased last year)
All serial subscriptions (journals, magazines, paper, online)
Microforms
Compact Discs
Videos/DVDs
Audio
Archives
Music scores
730,422 volumes
9,924 subscriptions
2,197,207 pieces
2,662 CDs
6,782 units
1,397 units
3,651 linear ft.
4,123 scores

Collection Totals – Creative Arts Library [^]

Books
20,960 volumes

Staff [^]

Librarians (faculty)
Professional
Support staff
Student assistants
17 employees/17 FTE
3 employees/2.90 FTE
33 employees/30.88 FTE
27 students/9.8 FTE

Building [^]

Renne Library – 112,000 sq. ft.
Creative Arts Library (Cheever Hall) – 3,370 sq. ft.
733 seating capacity
62 seating capacity

Library Use Factoids - July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008 [^]

Number of people who exited MSU Libraries
Items used up in the library
Items checked out (not counting renewals)
Uses made of electronic reserve
Hits on the library web site
Reference questions asked
Items loaned to other libraries
Items borrowed from other libraries
Instruction sessions held, reaching 4,266 students
Appointments made with librarians for in-depth reference assistance
MSU students reached by librarian provided instruction
765,235
26,081
62,760
110,787
5,904,000
22,734
16,561
27,587
217
345
23%

Library Serves the University and Beyond [^]

  • The Renne Library is the second most heavily used building on campus—after the Student Union Building, with more than 765,000 visitors annually.
  • More learning goes on in the library than in any single classroom on campus; the library is, in effect, the largest classroom or laboratory at any university.
  • The library serves the entire state as well as campus; any Montana adult citizen can check out books or use reference services in-person or online; we are a major interlibrary loan lender to Montana Libraries.

Library Provides Latest Technology [^]

  • Anyone with Internet access can search our catalog; our catalog provides user-friendly, online access around the clock.
  • Wireless access and plug-in ports are available throughout Renne Library for properly equipped laptop users; more than 100 computers are available in the library.

Library Needs [^]

  • Computer systems need to be upgraded every 3 – 5 years because of wear and tear, advances in technology, and increasing demands of software.
  • We should be buying many more books than we do per year. Last year we bought approximately 5,776, and our target was 10,000.
  • Too few books with very heavy use means that materials deteriorate at an accelerated rate.
  • More and more information is being created every year; we face increasingly greater challenges to keep up.
  • We have great staff and students; the weak link is budget for materials and equipment.

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