New College Library Dean Placed on Leave

Dr. Eraj Siddiqui, a librarian at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, has been stripped of her research guide position following her arrest for allegedly soliciting a bribe from a PhD student. Meanwhile, Western Illinois University is facing backlash over its decision to lay off all nine library faculty members, including eight tenured staff, as part of budget cuts due to a $22 million deficit. In Florida, Shannon Hausinger, the library dean at New College, has been placed on leave after a significant number of books were found discarded in a dumpster, leading to public outcry and concerns about the proper handling of library materials. The university defended the action, citing damage to the books from leaks and claiming that the disposal followed state laws. Critics, however, argue that the process was mishandled and that valuable resources, especially those from the now-closed Gender and Diversity Center, were lost. Each of these incidents highlights ongoing challenges faced by library systems amidst financial constraints and administrative oversight.