William Thompson, retired emeritus professor at WIU Libraries, notes in a new commentary for local NPR station TSPR.com that, "a librarian-less library will not help retain first-generation students — who, after all, are paying tuition in the hopes of getting an education and probably expect the university to provide services like faculty and usable libraries to help them do this. First-generation students are difficult to retain in the best of times — and these are not the best of times at Western. Why make it more difficult for them to stay in school?" ... "Without librarians, a library becomes rather indifferent to students' information needs, etc. Such a library in effect, says, "I have the information you need, but I won’t tell you where it is."

Thompson, William. "Commentary: An Unaffordable Luxury." Tri-States Public Radio (December 20, 2024). View story here

"Lora Ebert Wallace, a [WIU] professor of sociology, said she is baffled by the administration’s decision to cut the librarians...If there are no librarians around to stay on top of things, she said, it’s just a matter of time before those systems start failing... Library advocates argue that librarians provide essential support for that expertise and those programs. But the provost’s office viewed librarians through another lens." WIU Interim Associate Provost Christopher Pynes spoke with the Chronicle. "'We’re trying to Moneyball this thing and try to figure out how to get as much as we can, and as many offerings as we can, with the least amount of money,' Pynes said, referring to the Michael Lewis book about a baseball team."

Lu, Adrienne. "Can a Library Function Without Librarians? Can a College?" Chronicle of Higher Education (December 10, 2024). View story here [WIU-affiliated user access]

"We write to express our strong support for the CARLI Statement on the Importance of Librarians in Academic Libraries and our deep concern for our colleagues at Western Illinois University. Professional librarians’ advanced training makes them critical partners in knowledge creation at every institution of higher learning and they should be appointed and compensated accordingly. Librarians collaborate with scholars to solve information problems in every domain, and they are dedicated to building a more equitable, just information future. The success of our students and faculty depends on an effective, thriving community of academic librarians." — Claire Stewart, Juanita J. and Robert E. Simpson Dean of Libraries and University Librarian, on behalf of the Library faculty at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Have you ever wondered what academic librarians do? Krista Bowers Sharpe, WIU Librarian and Reference Coordinator, has launched the Library Magic YouTube channel for a fresh (brief!) take on librarian activities that are making a difference at WIU — and academic libraries nationally each day. Check out Krista's latest drops!

Former ALA President Emily Drabinski's recent article describes new challenges facing higher education, and how librarians are organizing to defend libraries, student support, and the public good.

"In August, Western Illinois University laid off its entire librarian faculty and at the same time insisted the university would still have 'adequate coverage in the library,'" reports Vox writer Constance Grady. "The school seemed to be operating under the belief that librarians are only warm bodies who exist to check books in and out..."

Members of the Library and Instruction Services Faculty at the Gwendolyn Brooks Library at Chicago State University (CSU) have writen the WIU BOT and Interim President to convey "our profound concern and strong opposition" to the recent decision to eliminate ALL librarian positions at Western. "We sggest that extreme administrative measures like eliminating all professional librarian positions...diminishes the quality of academic support...irreparably damages the institution's image...and undercuts effors to increase enrollment." See CSU's excellent statement of support!

Tri States Public Radio (WIUM/WIUW) released a radio news story and web article (Oct. 16, 2024), covering the collapse of WIU Libraries, as all of its professional librarians were eliminated per termination letters received August 8 (effective May 14). Numerous state agencies, professional librarian organizations, and librarians at other institutions have expressed serious concerns about what this will mean for Western's graduate and undergraduate programs. Supporters continue to call for the reinstatement of WIU's librarians, so that they may continue serving WIU's students and the citizens of the west central Illinois region. View/Hear story.

The Library Faculty of Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) has powerfully contributed to the rising chorus of statewide voices urging the WIU Board of Trustees and President Mindrup to restore WIU librarianship. NEIU's new letter states, "[t]he loss of professional librarians would be a significant step backward, compromising the educational quality WIU aims to provide." Concerned educators across Illinois are urging WIU's senior leadership to override the harmful termination decision and "Bring Back the Librarians!" Thank You, NEIU! Please see the terrific letter!

The Executive Board of the 2,000-member Illinois Library Association (ILA) has voted to endorse the recent CARLI Statement on the Importance of Librarians in Academic Libraries (pdf), issued in the wake of WIU's decision to eliminate ALL of its librarians. Founded in 1896, ILA is the third largest state library association (w/ 500 institutional members of all library types), and is a chapter of the American Library Association.

In the wake of the WIU crisis, CARLI's Governance Board has issued a major Statement on the Importance of Librarians in Academic Libraries, and has also called for Public Comment & Endorsement. Specifically the Board notes that, "Individual endorsements are welcome from directors of Illinois libraries, higher education organizations, and library associations." Please comment and endorse the CARLI Statement.

CARLI's Board of Directors has released a major Statement on the Importance of Librarians in Academic Libraries (pdf). CARLI is Illinois' publicly-funded statewide academic library consortium, which promotes resource and cost-sharing. A Governing Member of CARLI since its founding, we think WIU should follow its lead and "Bring Back the Librarians."

We greatly appreciate the tremendous support of our colleagues at Illinois State University! Please see their excellent statement of support!

WIU Interim Associate Provost Christopher Pynes spoke with the Chronicle this week, and almost got it right about the library: "[T]here are certain positions that can’t be reduced,” said Pynes. "You have to have a registrar's office [library] that can function, and you can’t reduce the registrar's office 40 percent [librarians by 100%] just because you’ve lost 40 percent of your students." With Dr. Pynes' essential rationale, we completely agree! If you believe a university's library is a critical operation (an absolute necessity — like the registrar's office), join us in encouraging the Provost's Office to change course and Bring Back the Librarians!

Gardner, Lee. "This is Why Some Regional Public Colleges Are In So Much Trouble." Chronicle of Higher Education (September 17, 2024). View story here.