Law Libraries & the Economic Crisis
How is the current economic crisis affecting the law library profession? An e-newsletter from AALL President, James Duggan, shares the results from a recent survey of law library directors:
Staff
- 23 percent of law libraries have experienced staff reductions, the overwhelming number ranging from one to five full-time employees laid off.
- Nearly 20 percent of law libraries have eliminated vacant positions, and more than 63 percent have a hiring freeze in place at this time.
- Hardest hit have been the private law libraries; 30 percent have had staff reductions, and nearly 72 percent have a hiring freeze in place.
- Only about 10 percent of academic law libraries have reduced their staffs, but 45 percent have a hiring freeze in place.
- A little more than 15 percent of state, court, and county law libraries have experienced layoffs, and 57 percent have a hiring freeze.
- 60+ percent of all respondents have already experienced budget cuts.
- Again, private law library budgets have seen the most cuts; nearly 73 percent have been cut, and about a quarter of respondents have seen cuts of 15 percent or more.
- Nearly half of academic law library budgets are so far untouched.
- About 40 percent of state, court, and county law library budgets also have remained steady, but many anticipate cuts in the next fiscal year.