In a time of uncertainty for academic libraries, Worcester State University has received a lifeline from an anonymous donor to maintain access to a suite of essential research databases.
Earlier this year, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) announced it would discontinue funding for more than 20 statewide databases, including many relied upon by faculty and students at Worcester State. This move, prompted by federal budget cuts, threatened to severely limit access to crucial academic resources like the Gale in Context resources, Gale Literary Collections, ProQuest Science, and the Boston Globe archives.
“It would have been incredibly difficult to move forward without the help of this donor,” said Matt Bejune, executive director of the library at Worcester State. “Many of our peer institutions will not be able to renew the resources that were canceled by MBLC, but we are very fortunate to have generous donors who support our students and faculty.”
The anonymous donor has committed to funding the $8,800 cost of the Gale Research Complete collection, which includes all the canceled Gale databases, including the Gale in Context databases. In addition, the library will gain access to Gale Literature Criticism, Gale Literature Resource Center, and Gale Literature Dictionary of Literary Biography.
“Access to the Gale Research Complete collection of databases will resume on September 1, which is a huge relief as we start the fall semester,” Bejune said. “It’s a testament to the value our community places on these resources that someone stepped up to preserve them.”
The Gale databases are widely used across disciplines at the university, supporting teaching, learning, and research for both students and faculty. The Literature Criticism database, for example, provides in-depth analysis and reviews of over 130,000 novels, novelists, and literary works.
“These databases are crucial teaching, learning, and research resources that are frequently used by our faculty and students,” Bejune said. “The library staff investigated the costs to replace them, and this donor gift makes it possible for us to continue offering access without any disruptive cuts.”
With the generous support of this anonymous donor, Worcester State University can maintain a robust collection of academic databases and resources for its community, ensuring students and faculty retain the tools they need to succeed. The library was also able to maintain access to the Boston Globe and ProQuest Science databases through other subscriptions.
Photo: Library Director Matt Bejune with students on the steps of the LRC