Message from the University Librarian
Dear Mines Community,
For over a century, the Arthur Lakes Library’s mission has been to provide seamless access to the world’s research. What began as a modest print collection in Guggenheim Hall in the early 1900s (where MAPS is now located) is now one of the most distinctive print-and-digital technical collections anywhere, one that we and our predecessors have tailored to the needs of our campus and its broader community. Throughout the years, we have successfully adapted to and even helped build innovations to the information ecosystem that supports education and research.
Another era is now at our doorstep. Prevailing business models in academic publishing have driven cost increases for decades, far exceeding other measures of inflation and any library’s ability to keep pace. Some of our yearly subscriptions would purchase a condo in Golden, four years of tuition at Mines, or a new high-end sports car. Every year. This long-standing systemic problem is now combined with downward pressures on university budgets, and we are reaching a breaking point.
I am writing to share how we plan to navigate these challenges through the next three years and to invite the Mines community into a transparent, multi-year process of reshaping our collections. This isn’t just about a single budget cycle; it’s about rebuilding a scholarly publishing ecosystem that better supports scholarship, science, and the advancement of knowledge. We are not alone in this challenge. Institutions across the nation and the region have already chosen to break away from standard licensing models in favor of more flexible, sustainable, and open-access-friendly approaches. For these reasons, several years ago we endorsed MIT’s Framework for Publisher Contracts and created our own E-Resource Licensing Priorities with the support of Mines Faculty Senate in 2024.
To be clear: this means we have no choice but to cancel immediate-access subscriptions to many paywalled journals over the next three years. Importantly, this does not mean we cannot provide access. Robust interlibrary loan arrangements, cooperative collection development models, two decades of open access advocacy, and innovations in access will allow us to get almost anything you need—it just may involve some additional work on our end and patience on yours.
As we evaluate our subscriptions, we are committed to a process that is data-driven and, most importantly, collaborative. We are not looking for a “quick fix.” Instead, we are building a long-term strategy that includes:
- Iterative Decision-Making: We will evaluate resources over time, ensuring that high-impact and high-utility tools remain a priority.
- Open Data: We will share usage statistics and cost-per-download data so the community can see the same landscape we do.
- Active Feedback Loops: We will seek your input to understand the specific research needs of your disciplines.
Our goal is to move toward a model where our spending aligns with our values: supporting high-quality research while ensuring that the scholarly record remains accessible and affordable for all, now and for generations to come.
We welcome your thoughts, questions, and concerns as we begin this transition. For more detailed information, please visit this page. It includes and will continue to include resources currently being considered, our long-term planning efforts, and in many cases the data we use to make these difficult decisions. Most immediately, it also provides an opportunity for you to fill out a simple survey so we may better understand what resources are most important to you.
While we cannot guarantee that these reductions will not disrupt your work, we can assure you that we are here for you. Please email me (jack.maness@mines.edu) and our Head of Collection Management & E-Resources Librarian, Danielle Ostendorf (danielleostendorf@mines.edu), if you would like us to visit you and your colleagues to discuss these changes and our plans in more detail.
Come what may, we will persist in our mission to provide the information necessary for teaching, learning and research at Mines and our surrounding communities to continue.
Onward.
Sincerely,
Jack Maness
University Librarian