Save the UCLA Arts Library

Another distressing sign of the economy, and the disturbing trend that it seems the Arts are the first to be sacrificed in hard times.

UCLA, like many entities in the struggling state of California, is having severe financial problems and has responded to a need for budget cuts by proposing to close the entire Arts Library. Much like this summer's sudden closure of the Image Collection at the Art Institute of Chicago, this decision seems to have been made in haste and without the knowledge of the people the decision will affect the most; the collection's staff and the students and faculty that depend on its resources to learn and teach.

There is now a formal petition to stop the library's closure. (Link below). Here is its official statement:

"UCLA Library Management, behind closed doors and without consultation with the UCLA community has decided to close its Arts Library, potentially as soon as January 2010.

For decades, the Arts Library has served faculty, students and the Southern California community as an essential cultural resource. In terms of research and scholarship it supports some of the nation's best programs in the arts, architecture, art history, film, television, theater and the humanities. With over 270,000 volumes and unique collections, the Arts Library is a singular institution in Los Angeles, a burgeoning center for the arts. It must be preserved.

We understand that the UCLA Library must meet a nearly $2 million shortfall. However, the permanent elimination of a critical UCLA institution must not be the solution to a short term budget crisis."

I encourage anyone to sign the petition to stop the Arts Library's closure.

There is also a Facebook group you can join: http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=132785048409&ref=nf

Perhaps I am especially biased because the closure of resources such as this library indicates that my own job security could be in question. But any member of our Southwestern University community ought to recognize this as an alarming situation. If reputable Academic institutions are desperate enough to shut down invaluable resources- Art related or otherwise- where does that leave students, teachers, and even society in general? 

Realistically, I understand that something does have to give so that UCLA as a whole can continue to exist. But the utterly final closure of an entire library collection just doesn't seem reasonable. Obviously I don't know any of the real details, but it would seem less drastic cuts and scaling-back across the board- i.e. extending beyond just the arts- would be advisable in the long run. 

True this is not a case of fascist book burning, but the end result is the same- resources and information in them are fully taken away from those who would use them. It might save some money, but at what real cost?

Update: I've just found a very eloquent and moving open letter by a student named Wesley Pinkham that sums everything up beautifully. Read it if you've got a moment.