Cut to State Funding of UC System Causes Changes in Geisel Services

On September 19, UC San Diego announced changes to library services beginning September 23 in a campus notice to academics, students, and staff due to budget cuts. The library’s UCSD-provided budget was cut by 8% this year, meaning a $3.3 million budget cut. According to the library’s 2022-23 Annual Impact Report, last fiscal year’s expenditures totalled to $42.2 million, meaning this year’s total expenditures are planned to total $39 million. The budget cuts apply only to the UCSD-provided “core” funding and do not affect their funds from gifts and its endowment. 

The reduction to Geisel’s budget is a smaller part of a large cut to state funding of the UC system. During the 2024-25 fiscal year, the state issued a one-time reduction to UC funding of $125 million as part of an ongoing $375 million budget cut in the 2025-26 fiscal year, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, a government agency that advises the California legislature on fiscal matters. 

As a result of the budget cuts, Geisel Library, which was open 24 hours last year, has begun closing at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. According to a statement from Audrey Geisel University Librarian Erik Mitchell, the library decided to cut its late-night and weekend hours because library usage was lowest during those periods, thus reducing the impact on the student body as much as possible.

In addition to the shortened hours, the library is transitioning 30% of desktop computers to monitor-only availability. Mitchell stated that the change was made after “analysis of public computer usage patterns showed a significant decline in student use of desktop computers over the last five years.” This change will allow students to connect their laptops to the monitors to increase display size. 70% of computers at Wong Avery Library and Geisel Library will remain available as complete desktop computers.

UCSD also announced they would be curtailing their media services. Mitchell stated that due to the increased cost of acquiring and streaming media for classes, the library has “moved to a licensing-only model for providing access to streaming media. This means that, whenever possible, we will acquire streaming rights through a distributor or the artist.” The library’s budgetary restrictions will stop them from streaming many newly released media. New course-related media that is required for a class that cannot be streamed will be purchased physically and made available to watch in class rather than via streaming. 

When asked whether library staff layoffs had occurred, Mitchell stated “Retaining current Library employees and avoiding layoffs is a top priority. To achieve this, we paused recruitment for approximately 10 vacant positions and will continue to evaluate current and future vacant positions. No layoffs have occurred.” 

Tate McFadden is the Managing Editor for The Triton