University Libraries will cut nearly $700,000 worth of subscriptions to academic journals next year.
Those planning to cancel journal subscriptions include Zimmerman, Centennial, Fine Arts and Parish Business libraries.
"It will hurt," said Linda Lewis, University Libraries professor. "The cut will affect students at every level as well as the University faculty."
Lewis said she is advising UNM students to begin research early and to speak with the staff at the reference desks about their research topics.
"We can probably get the information students need through interlibrary loan, but it won't be instant," she said. "Students can no longer afford to wait until the night before a paper is due to find the necessary information."
Student Rachel Wansa said she depends on online journals when doing research for papers. Students will just have to get by without them, she said.
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"It'll definitely be a hassle, but if certain journals aren't being utilized, there's no point in wasting the money," Wansa said.
Lewis said the rising prices of journal subscriptions often cost universities across the nation more than they can afford.
"The ever-increasing costs of journals, especially in the scientific, technical and medical areas, have forced all libraries to purchase fewer and fewer books and have made it impossible for most libraries to add the electronic resources needed by their users," Lewis said.
Subscription prices rise nearly 10 percent annually, which has caused the cancellation of journals by nearly all research libraries for years, she said.
"Companies are in business to make a profit," Lewis said. "With all of the new information available, they publish a greater number of issues, and they charge more money.
UNM has had to cut its book purchasing dramatically in order to continue subscribing to journals. Doing so damages the ability of the library to support the humanities and social sciences concentrations, she said.
"Many journals cost over $10,000 each year," Lewis said. "With our annual budget at 2 million dollars, it's money we just don't have."
In addition to being expensive, many academic journals are underutilized by library patrons, she said.
"When you have a subscription that costs thousands of dollars and it gets two or three downloads a year, it's just not valuable," said Mark Emmons, head of Instruction Services.
University departments will be asked to identify those resources that are least used or most expensive.
From the list, expendable journals will be cut.
The list will be available online later this year.
William Pockman, assistant professor of biology, said University faculty members are often frustrated by the shrinking supply of academic resources.
The idea of choosing the least useful journal is difficult, he said.
"Until the way distributing information in academia, particularly science, is resolved, we're going to continue to see these types of crises," Pockman said.
Lewis said the existing system is no longer functional.
"Changes must be made to make information available in a timely fashion," she said. "We're exploring alternatives to the system."
UNM set up an institutional repository, which is a digital archive called Dspace.
It enables departments to preserve published journals for the future.
The system also allows professors to make semifinal drafts of their works available to students online.
Lewis said she has hope for the repository, but there is a potential drawback for science fields.
"There is some information that's so new and changing that individuals simply can't wait six months for it to become available," she said. "It will help those departments that can wait."
