Save the Libraries at Vermont State University
The Issue
On Tuesday, February 7th, students of the soon-to-be Vermont State University were notified by email that our libraries would soon cease to exist as we have known and loved them for generations. VSU President Parwinder Grewal announced that he and the administration plan to get rid of all paper books in our libraries, fire the library staff, go fully digital and repurpose the library spaces for all five campuses.
This decision was made based on the results of a survey that the majority of students had no idea was happening at all. Although the survey ran from after Thanksgiving of 2022 until the beginning of the spring semester, only one of the survey's 12 questions asks about the form of library services used and only just over 500 of approximate 5,500 students' opinions were heard. Data on library materials did not include the immense amount of students who use physical books but do not check them out. Students had no idea that this well-hidden survey would bring about the downfall of our physical libraries and bring about a digital-only dystopia.
The most shocking revelation was that this survey hosted students of the Community College of Vermont, an institution that is not only a popular online education option but is not even slated to be part of Vermont State University. These often-online students were the majority in the survey's first question, which asked about the student's primary institution. This brings about an enormous possibility for survey bias.
The survey results can be viewed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-IgTIDmncOnnHq_2BlajqhbmA_3D_3D/
Since this announcement, students at all five VSU campuses have expressed shock, disappointment and anger at this decision. With the shift to an all-digital library looming, it is time to rally and make sure our voices are heard. Our libraries are the heart of our campus, and a digital-only facility will never be able to replace what we love about them. Our librarians are going to be fired, students who cannot read on screens are going to be excluded, and our ability to learn hinges on servers that can go down at any time. We do not want this, and we want the administration to hear our voices since our tuition funds their institution.
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The Issue
On Tuesday, February 7th, students of the soon-to-be Vermont State University were notified by email that our libraries would soon cease to exist as we have known and loved them for generations. VSU President Parwinder Grewal announced that he and the administration plan to get rid of all paper books in our libraries, fire the library staff, go fully digital and repurpose the library spaces for all five campuses.
This decision was made based on the results of a survey that the majority of students had no idea was happening at all. Although the survey ran from after Thanksgiving of 2022 until the beginning of the spring semester, only one of the survey's 12 questions asks about the form of library services used and only just over 500 of approximate 5,500 students' opinions were heard. Data on library materials did not include the immense amount of students who use physical books but do not check them out. Students had no idea that this well-hidden survey would bring about the downfall of our physical libraries and bring about a digital-only dystopia.
The most shocking revelation was that this survey hosted students of the Community College of Vermont, an institution that is not only a popular online education option but is not even slated to be part of Vermont State University. These often-online students were the majority in the survey's first question, which asked about the student's primary institution. This brings about an enormous possibility for survey bias.
The survey results can be viewed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-IgTIDmncOnnHq_2BlajqhbmA_3D_3D/
Since this announcement, students at all five VSU campuses have expressed shock, disappointment and anger at this decision. With the shift to an all-digital library looming, it is time to rally and make sure our voices are heard. Our libraries are the heart of our campus, and a digital-only facility will never be able to replace what we love about them. Our librarians are going to be fired, students who cannot read on screens are going to be excluded, and our ability to learn hinges on servers that can go down at any time. We do not want this, and we want the administration to hear our voices since our tuition funds their institution.
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Petition created on February 10, 2023