Ithaka S+R: US Library Survey 2025: Under Pressure

New From Ithaka S+R: US Library Survey 2025: Under Pressure

“With thanks to Gary Price for his extensive summary of key findings (three of them are highlighted below):

Leaders are operating under sustained financial and staffing constraints. Mirroring previous cycles, the majority of respondents cite a lack of financial resources as the primary constraint on their ability to make changes in their libraries. Anticipated cancellations of journal packages alongside reductions in staff mean that libraries are also limited in their ability to sustain core functions.

While most leaders feel confident in their ability to articulate the library’s value proposition, fewer believe this value is recognized by senior administrators. Additionally, only 31 percent agree that they are involved in key decision-making processes at the campus level.

Investments in open access initiatives have declined. Since the survey was last administered, the share of leaders prioritizing transformative agreements declined from 38 percent to 26 percent. The share prioritizing transitioning their spending from subscriptions to open investments also declined steeply from 45 percent to 23 percent.