The main theme of Wednesday night’s Government of the Student Body meeting was the library fee resolution.

Much of the night was dedicated to discussion of the resolution to implement a $50 library fee. Dean of the library, Olivia Madison, led a presentation prepared by her and the University Library Committee about why the library was in such need of the fee.

“The library is really at a crossroads,” she said.

She iterated the importance of the resource to those in attendance.

“It’s your library, not my library,” she said.

The library does have many strengths, among which are the extensive journal and book collections and a successful e-Library, Madison said. However, the library has dropped among peer institutions.

In a Association of Research Libraries ranking, Iowa State has dropped 15 spots since 1995, nine rankings in the past year alone.

“I’ve worked at the library for a long time and we have never fallen this dramatically,” Madison said.

The most important thing that needs attention is building next generation electronic libraries. However, there is no money in the budget currently to do so.

“We’re recommending a student library fee,” Madison said.

The library has had total budget cuts of $1.6 billion over the past seven years, according to the presentation.

Senator Korey Krieg, sophomore in finance, wondered where this money had gone. Madison explained it was mostly due to state funding cuts.

Senator Tom Dworzanski, senior in finance, asked why the increase in tuition has not been able to keep up with the library’s needs.

“What is the biggest problem for the library not getting the money it needs?” he asked.

Tuition, however, was not enough for the library, Madison explained.

“We have costs that go beyond the university,” she said.

Another item at Wednesday’s meeting was the opportunity for students to learn how to lobby, said Clark Richardson, senior in agricultural business. On Nov. 28, there will be a group going to the state Capitol and meeting with a representative and senator, along with a professional lobbyist. There will also be a tour of the capital. Students who are interested can sign up in the GSB office space.