Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 31, 1978)
Library storage shortage debated By MELODY WARD Of thhe Emerald The University library is faced with a critical problem: A finite amount of storage space, and an expontentially growing influx of in formation. "We’ve got about three more years expansion time before we’ll have to stack the books in the aisles,” says Head Librarian Wil liam Axford. Axford says 120,000 books are currently stored in other campus buildings, but he says alternative storage must be found soon to al leviate the shelving crunch. Just how the books are to be stored has raised some con troversy among faculty members. “We either build new library buildings, add on to the present ones, or go to a central storage concept,” explains John Baldwin, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “What we can’t do — is no thing,” he says. Baldwin says the shortage of storage space is being felt by the other state system libraries in “varying degrees.” By sharing a central storage system, each lib rary would be able to house in coming books and retain access to those volumes that are not in as great demand. But the concept of central stor age sparks distrust among many faculty members, particularly in the humanities area. “We want to see ail the titles around us so that we can compare the works in terms of content and quality before rejecting some and making use of others,” explains English Prof. Robert Grudin. “You don’t want a librarian deciding that for you.” Grudin adds that the “brows ing” process often requires only a brief amount of time. He says, “there are many times when a scholar only needs about 30 seconds to check an index or a reference. But this procedure would be very difficult if the works involved were in a storage facil ity.” I Baldwin says state system lib rarians have already filed a pro posal with the chancellor’s office to locate a central storage facility at Camp Adair, a former military base near Corvallis. “It would not be the sort of situa tion one could browse in,” he says. Under such a plan, books could be retrieved from storage within a week. But Baldwin cau tions that at this point, no one is certain exactly how long it would take. According to the proposal, the Camp Adair facility would cost ap proximately $400,000 and would serve all the state system lib raries. Baldwin says some faculty members are worried that if Uni versity books were stored away from this campus, they may not be as accessible. “Some poeple are against re mote storage period, others are against state system controlled storage,” he explains. “Not all the faculty have confidence that the zmcmjtaeiiffi&i, Complete Art and Architecture Supplies at Discount Prices open M - Th - 9-9, Fri B Sat til 6 pm, Sun 12-5 Two blocks from campus on 13th, near Hilyard Drawing by Jim Payne. needs of the University would be kept paramount because the state system would give equal weight ing to the needs of all the state institutions.” It is estimated that an addition to the University library would cost from one to three million dollars. According to Axford, the best IT solution would be a new addition to the existing library, so the books would remain near at hand. He says an addition of nearly 16,000 feet to the fourth floor is being considered, but its feasibility de pends on other campus construc tion priorities. "No decisions have been J made,” Axford says. “Ultimately, the Legislature will make the final decision.” Baldwin says the University is carefully considering every alter native. Six outside experts will speak to both sides of the central storage issue in a public collo quium to t>e held April 20 and 21. Sundries for you. Kleenex Tissue 200 count box reg. 830 now 580 Suave Shampoo and Conditioner reg. $1.49 now 990 Crest Toothpaste 3 oz. reg. 890 now 530 Pepsodent Toothburshes reg. 790 now 390 IICJ 13th & Kincaid 686-4331 BOOKSTORE °Pen: Mon-Fri 8:15-5:30 Sat 10:00-2:00 Savings on School Supplies. For your munching pleasure. Mars bars 130 ea. or 2 for 250 Snickers, M & M’s, 3-Musketeers, Milky Way, Starburst, and Forever Yours. Pentel Rolling Writer reg. 980 now 690 Parker “Big Red” Ball Pen reg. $2.89 Bic Pens reg. 250 now 2 for 290 Erasable Typing Paper 16 lb., 100 sheets pack reg. $1.29 now 890 LiquidPaper reg. $1.10 now 730 Deluxe 3-Ring Binder reg. $2.98 now $1.89 Spiral Notebooks with Duck imprint 80 Sheets reg. 690 now 390
