Use library resources

When the state cuts education funding, students not only pay more but face shrinking resources.

In “Library loses databases” published March 2, The Ranger reported the library has discontinued 25 databases that cost a combined $79,153.34 in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 because of budget cuts. In fiscal year 2011, the library cut 13 databases, which cost $40,847.38.

Among those was NewsBank, a database ranked No. 5 on this college’s 2008 list of most-used databases. It was a 2011 cut because of its high price tag of $17,340. NewsBank offered millions of current and archived articles from local to international publications.

In 2012, the library cut 12 databases, totaling $38,305.96, including EBSCO’s PsycArticles, which cost $10,598 a year. PsycArticles contains more than 150,000 articles from 80 scholarly journals published by or in affiliation with the American Psychological Association.

Is there nowhere else besides student services to cut?

According to the staffing summary of the Alamo Colleges annual budget for fiscal year 2011-12, the district allocated $319,937.28 to pay Chancellor Bruce Leslie’s salary.

Despite cuts at the colleges, in the five years he has led this district, he has yet to miss out on a raise or bonus. His salary could pay for the discontinued databases four times over.

Trustees need to explain why someone so cavalier about the quality of higher education for the vast majority of the city of San Antonio’s students is rewarded. Meanwhile, students watch as he forces cuts to print services, tutors, lab and library hours and now databases.

College and district administrators constantly tout the importance of “customer service.” Here at the college, we call ourselves students. Lip service doesn’t create customer service any more than it creates transparency.

Take advantage of resources still available while you can because apparently, even presenting evidence of need isn’t enough to save services in this district.