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October 2009 AALL Economic Outlook Follow-up Survey

In mid-March 2009, AALL conducted a survey of law library directors to understand how the current economic crisis was affecting the profession. The survey was intended to help determine how widespread law library staffs had been affected by layoffs, furloughs, reduction of benefits, and/or budget cuts. Six months later, in mid-September 2009, AALL conducted a follow-up survey to see how economic conditions have changed (or not changed) for law libraries. Nearly 430 members responded for a 33 percent response rate.

Overall, the economic situation for law libraries is less severe than it was in April 2009. Staff reductions, hiring freezes, and budget cuts have slowed. However, the number of law libraries that instituted furloughs has increased, and law libraries have continued to see more staff and budget cuts than growth in the last six months.

Staff Reductions

• Fewer libraries have experienced additional staff reductions since April—15 percent of law libraries compared to 23 percent in April, again with the overwhelming number ranging from one to five full-time employees laid off.
• An additional 13 percent of law libraries have eliminated vacant positions, and 40 percent more have a hiring freeze in place at this time.
• An increasing percentage of libraries have instituted furloughs or mandated time off without pay or reduction in hours since April; this occurs most often in academic or state, court, and county law libraries.
• The private law libraries continue to be the sector hardest hit; about 18 percent have had additional staff reductions, and nearly 50 percent more have a hiring freeze in place.
• Academic and state, court, and county law libraries have similar situations—nearly 13 percent have had additional staff reductions, and about 31 percent more have a hiring freeze in place.

Budget Cuts

• About 54 percent of all respondents have experienced additional budget cuts since April, most often in the range of 7-10 percent cut.
• Private law library budgets again have seen the most cuts; 60 percent more have been reduced, and 13 percent have seen cuts of 15 percent or more.
• About half of academic and state, court, and county law library budgets have been cut since April; the majority of academic budget reductions range from 1-6 percent, while state, court, and county’s have been more severe—16 percent saw cuts of 15 percent or more. 

Full results

Examples of what law libraries are doing to cope with the current economic situation

April 2009 AALL Economic Outlook Survey

In mid-March 2009, AALL conducted a survey of law library directors to understand how the current economic crisis is affecting the profession. The survey was intended to help determine how widespread law library staffs have been affected by layoffs, furloughs, reduction of benefits, and/or budget cuts. More than 400 members responded for a 34 percent response rate.

Staff Reductions 

• 23 percent of law libraries have experienced staff reductions, the overwhelming number ranging from one to five full-time employees laid off
• Nearly 20 percent of law libraries have eliminated vacant positions, and more than 63 percent have a hiring freeze in place at this time
• Hardest hit have been the private law libraries; 30 percent have had staff reductions, and nearly 72 percent have a hiring freeze in place
• Only about 10 percent of academic law libraries have reduced their staffs, but 45 percent have a hiring freeze in place
• A little more than 15 percent of state, court, and county law libraries have experienced layoffs, and 57 percent have a hiring freeze

Budget Cuts

• More than 60 percent of all respondents have already experienced budget cuts
• Private law library budgets have seen the most cuts; nearly 73 percent have been cut, and about a quarter of respondents have seen cuts of 15 percent or more
• Nearly half of academic law library budgets are so far untouched, and about 40 percent of state, court, and county law library budgets also have remained steady, but many anticipate cuts in the next fiscal year

Full results

Examples of what law libraries are doing to cope with the current economic situation