Dive Brief:

• A newly released survey of academic library leaders shows a steep decline in the percentage of respondents that are invested in the role of supporting research, outside of doctoral universities.
• The 2013 Ithaka S+R Library Survey was emailed last fall to library deans and directors at four-year colleges and universities in the U.S., with 499 responding.
• The survey respondents reported relatively small projected increases in e-book spending, and library directors may be less aggressive in moving to electronic formats than faculty members.

Dive Insight:

This survey updates results of a similar Ithaka S+R survey in 2010. Among the other findings from the 2013 version: Library directors view their limited financial resources as a major constraint. If they had new funds to spend, many agree that they would invest in staffing and online or digital content, including journals and e-books. New hires would concentrate on web services, digital preservation, instruction, and information literacy services.