Blame the decrepit state budget, inflation, a shift from paper to electronic research - or all three. But Berkeley has reduced its library spending by 12 percent since 2008, even as the University of Michigan, its main public competitor, has spent 24 percent more. Berkeley now spends about $50 million to Michigan's $64 million - and has lost 70 of its 400 library professionals. An additional 20 positions will be kept vacant after retirements over the next three years, Leonard said. For now, the campus has set aside its library closure plan. As a result of the petition, Provost George Breslauer and Chancellor Robert Birgeneau will convene a blue-ribbon committee of faculty members to begin tackling the problem in August and make recommendations in December.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/17/BAV01P0A6G.DTL
