On Friday, the Frank C. Ogg Science Library in the Math Sciences Building will close – a final decision which was announced June 17 by Interim Provost Mark Gromko.
After closing, the materials will be shipped to either the Jerome Library on campus or the Northwest Ohio Regional Book Depository, an off-campus facility located in Perrysburg for the storage of books for the University and the University of Toledo.
The Ogg library, located on the third and fourth floors of the building, offered research and instruction in mathematics, health, medicine, technology and the sciences.
Sara Bushong, the interim associate library dean, said the materials will be integrated within either the first or the eighth floors of Jerome Library.
‘For us, the materials have always been considered part of our main library collection,’ she said.
Bushong said this use of the library space will help to save money within the library system.
‘Currently there is no permanent staff at the science library,’ she said. ‘The library staff has to shift back and forth between the libraries at different days, along with student workers.’
Having the books at the two separate locations will result in decreased costs and greater efficiencies, Gromko said in an e-mail sent to the University.
‘Given the ongoing fiscal challenges, maintaining OSL as a stand-alone facility was not cost-effective,’ he said.
The original decision to close the library, which was made public to the student body on Feb. 5 by Gromko, was pending approval due to the fact President Carol Cartwright wanted to review the Charter to avoid any possible violations. There was a possible violation in the sense that if the closing of the library did not ‘affect two or more colleges,’ it could not have been closed.
Plans for the space in the Math Sciences Building have been discussed, however nothing has been decided. Bushong said the plans should be in the works in the following year.
‘I think that they will take time to analyze the best use of the space,’ she said.
Some options include moving the school of Earth, Environment and Society, along with the newly-developed Program of Environment and Sustainability, to the new location. Another option that was discussed is the movement of the office of the College of Arts and Sciences from the Administration Building.
Other plans which were stated in the original Feb. 5 announcement include a possible move for Disability Services from South Hall, along with creating a computer lab and large seminar room for Mathematics and Statistics.
A suggestion made by the libraries was to have a 24-hour study area, Bushong said.
‘We have suggested that as a use for the space because we would like to see that happen,’ she said. ‘I’m sure that the new provost will work closely with the dean to make a decision for the space.’
