Editor, The Transcript:
I want to clarify information related to the story about the University of Oklahoma Press layoffs published in Saturday's Norman Transcript. Your story correctly stated that the layoffs were a cost-cutting measure, however, the reductions at the OU Press were not a result of the budget presented by President Boren and adopted at the Regents' meeting last week. The budget that President Boren presented to the OU Press did not direct layoffs or furloughs.
The reduction in force at the Press was due to national trends in the sales of books that have affected virtually all publishers in the United States. Reductions in demand for books and returns from wholesalers have impacted university presses nationwide. Many university presses have experienced much deeper cuts and some have been threatened with closure. We are fortunate by comparison.
When President Boren learned of the timing of the layoffs, he made funds available to the Press to provide 30 days of additional pay for a total of 60 days of pay to give those impacted more time to find other employment. President Boren also asked the staff of OU's office of human resources to work hard to find other jobs at the university for the affected individuals. These employees also will be first to be recalled if book production and sales improve. Already the human resources department at OU has been a great assistance.
I wanted to make clear that the reductions were not due to university directives but because of necessary adjustment to the national book market, which is beyond our control.
B. BYRON PRICE
Director
University of Oklahoma Press
