Greek Academic Libraries during a period of economical downturn: strategies of survival based on self-funding and innovation

Greek financial indicators are having been following a negative trajectory for three years by now and pressures for extended bugdet cuts are imposed in all economic domains. Greek Academic Libraries, which are completely depended on public funds, are also victims of that policy of budget reductions. Statistical data collected amd published annually by M.O.P.A.B., reflect clearly this situation for the years 2009 and 2010. At the same time, academic libraries worldwide have already mentioned their own experience from the economic downturn through papers and surveys, and they have also opened a coversation on the reaction strategies. This essay tries to impress the impact of current economic climate on Greek Academic Libraries and to suggest reacyion strattegies, based on the result of a primary survey conducted with this scope, in which 25 Greek Academic Libraries participated. In addition to that, the orientation to self-funding and innovation are examined as parts of integrated reaction model, also includes quality and active involvement.