Budget cuts continue to strike key services that affect the education of students and faculty research as GIL Express will be discontinued Oct. 1.

GIL Express is a service that allows students and faculty to request a book from any University System of Georgia institution.

The University system is facing a 6 percent budget cut and GIL Express was a victim of these cuts across the state.

“The funds are not there, and you try to think of the things you can reduce that have the least impact on our core mission. By reducing the interlibrary loan services, it has an impact, but the decision is made in the context of other choices, the other choices were more severe in terms of impact to students,” said John Millsaps, spokesperson for the Board of Regents.

The cost for the service has risen in the past few years due to increased use and higher fuel surcharges from the couriers. It costs the state $4 for every book requested and delivered, said Merryll Penson, executive director for library services for the University System of Georgia.

University students and faculty have received 1,262 books through GIL Express since the beginning of the school year, according to University system data. Across the University system, students and faculty have received 10,331 books.

“We know how important this service is to students and faculty. I am one of the librarians that worked to put this in place, so it’s something difficult for me too,” Penson said.

Penson said she is exploring other ways to continue the service in a less costly manner and will be attending a conference called “Moving Mountains” later this year to speak with colleagues on how to deal with the issues.

“It’s a service that we hope to find a way to reinstate,” Penson said. “We are at a difficult point in our University system budget.”