Parks Library is seeking support for a student library fee that would make up for recent budget cuts. The student fee would also help boost rankings among other research libraries.

Of the Big 12 universities, Iowa State’s library ranks 10th, according to a study done in 2005. Eight of the Big 12 schools have a student fee for their libraries to purchase materials, build their electronic resources and bring in more technology to help students with class projects.

Olivia Madison, dean of the library, said the recent budget cuts of $1.6 million by the state have reduced the library’s ability to serve students.

“Journal and book prices rise about 10 percent a year,” Madison said.

“We have had to drop some journal subscriptions in order to keep the more used journals.”

To make up for the deficit, an equal fee for undergraduate and graduate students has been proposed. The fee could range from $25 to $100.

“Realistically, the fee would start at about $25,” Madison said.

The money could potentially go toward new reference materials and textbooks, more electronic resources, more spaces for groups to work effectively, expanding the e-Library and increasing the library hours.

“A $25 fee would raise approximately $1.25 million, of that a good portion would go to books, textbooks and electronic reserve,” Madison said. “We are trying everything we can to help students efficiently use the library.”

A group of students in an English 302 class are conducting e-mail surveys of students to find out how they feel about the proposed fee. They have already surveyed more than 750 students, and 40 percent of them said they would support a $25 library fee, 38 percent said they wouldn’t and 20 percent said they had no opinion.

The group is also investigating how students use the library. They will finish their project and present their findings at the end of the month.

“We will present to the Government of the Student Body soon after we finish our presentation,” said Katelyn VerHoef, junior in marketing and member of the group.

Rachel Renshaw, senior in biology, said she had not heard of the proposed fee, but would support a small fee.

“I would probably support a $25 fee,” said Renshaw. “I use the e-Library a lot for my classes.”

Madison will meet with GSB and the Graduate and Professional Student Senate next year to seek their support for establishing a fee. The final decision will fall on the Board of Regents.