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Library fee will rise by $3 over two years

Increase will help fund computer stations and staffing at the libraries, Rooks says
 

By Geronimo Rodriguez
Senior Staff Writer

The student library fee will increase by $3 over the next two years, reaching $9 per semester credit hour by Fall 2005, despite concerns from the Student Government Association president.

The two-phase increase was interim Provost Jerald Strickland's idea.

"I recommended that (Dean of Libraries Dana Rooks') proposed fee increase be phased in over a two-year span, and she was quite happy with that," Strickland said.

Considering the improvements that will come with the completion of the library's $45 million renovation and expansion project, none of which is funded through student fees, Strickland said the increase "certainly is a good proposal."

Strickland said he will approve the proposal, which will raise the fee to $7.50 per semester credit hour from the current $6 this fall. Another $1.50 will be added in Fall 2005, making the fee $9 per semester credit hour. The last time the library increased its fee was 2003, to $6 per semester credit hour from $3.

Regardless of how the library fee goes into effect, SGA President Dawona Miller said, "the administration is not being considerate of the students."

"I feel like we're being left in the dark," Miller said, adding that she didn't know the increase was going to be approved so quickly. "We're already talking about a tuition increase. On top of that, we have to deal with these incidental fee increases."

Rooks said some senators expressed skepticism about the increase, but she said she feels that she has kept the Senate informed about the proposal.

"I'm not trying to surprise them. I'm trying to be responsible and keep them informed," Rooks said.

Indeed, SGA Vice President Jon Quintanilla called Miller's assessment of Rooks' efforts to make the Senate aware of the increase "unfair," saying Rooks did make efforts to maintain communication.

"I thought the dean gave us ample opportunity to give feedback about the fee, but I think some members of the (SGA Executive Committee) don't always take the time to examine the fees," Quintanilla said.

Quintanilla, who sits on the University's academic fee committee, said he kept senators informed about the fee via e-mail. He said he submitted senators' recommendations to the committee and received more positive than negative feedback on the increase.

Among other things, the fees will help the library increase its number of computer work stations and staff members and will allow the continuation of free printing from laptops and work stations, Rooks said.

"Where does the library get the resources if these are the things students want?" Rooks said. "If they say no to the fee, then these services aren't going to be provided."
 

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