Despite the decline in use of the annually distributed university directory, the university finds the directory important enough to continue publishing.
According to the university, the directories are a collaborative effort between the Offices of Marketing, Communications, Human Resources, IT and publisher University Directories. The directories, however, are not finding a warm reception.
“I just use the website,” jazz studies sophomore James Fullerton said. “It’s quicker and I can just double click their email address to start my message.”
Music industry freshman Giancarlo Robert expressed his discontent with the availability of his personal information. “The idea that my name, home address and phone numbers are in a book anyone on campus can grab creeps me out. If you want my number, use the website and email me asking for it,” Robert said
Databases for the student listings are sent from Student Records and databases for faculty and staff are pulled from Human Resources. The databases are sent to University Directories for layout.
The university has recognized the declining number of students using the directories in recent years and has decreased their production by 15 percent, from last year to this year. The number of directories produced dropped from 5,000 to 4,500, but the university won’t stop producing them, according to Terrell Fisher associate vice president of the Office of Marketing and Communication.
Fisher recognizes the decrease in use in recent years, due in part to more students using the online Find People search tool, but still feels the directory is relevant.
“As long as there is no cost to the university, it helps the advertisers and it provides benefits to the students,” Fisher said.
The directories are paid for in full by the advertising spots throughout the book, which are sold by Loyola students who receive payments for their sales. Because the university does not allow advertising on the website advertising demands in the directories remain high.
No profit is made off the publication of the books and the costs break even, ensuring there is no money that has to come out of the university’s budget to publish the directories, according to Fisher.
Samuel Thomas can be reached [email protected]