Gonzaga Closing Down Information-Tracking Service Ris Couldn’T Generate Enough Money To Support Itself

Gonzaga University will pull the plug later this month on its eight-year info-tracking experiment, Regional Information Services.

Launched in 1992 when GU built the Foley Library, Regional Information Services was a one-stop data-gathering office for clients and businesses needing critical information.

It had moderate success, said Director David Buxton. “But we could never get Regional Information Services to support itself,” he said.

The operation ran with four full-time employees at one time. As of last June, Buxton was the only RIS staffer.

Closing down has produced mixed feelings for Buxton.

“This was an interesting experiment that I thought could support itself.

“On the other hand, it makes sense for the university to shut down an operation that isn’t central to its mission,” said Buxton.

The silver lining is that Buxton was given permission by GU to operate RIS as a private consulting business.

“For now, it’ll be a part-time activity, as a consultant service,” he added.

Central to what RIS offered was professional librarians who knew how to hunt key information for clients.

People using the Internet assume it’s not difficult to track down information from across the globe.

Regional Information Services claimed its staff went beyond finding information: “We knew how to find information, but also we knew how to evaluate it,” Buxton said.

Clients ranged from corporate customers to individuals who asked RIS to track down a lost war buddy.

Most customers were business owners and companies.

The largest account RIS landed was with Hewlett-Packard’s Liberty Lake office. Last year, HP reorganized and placed the plant into its spin-off company, Agilent.

For more than five years Buxton and crew were on retainer with Hewlett-Packard, tracking information on new developments in the wireless and cell-phone industry.

That contract with Agilent ended this year. That loss probably sealed the fate of RIS, said Buxton.

A year ago Buxton was informed by GU administrators that RIS would close if it couldn’t pay its way.

“The goal was never to make a profit. All along, it was just to break even,” said Buxton.

Annual losses varied. The largest yearly loss was roughly $20,000, he said. This past year, it may have totaled several thousand dollars, said Buxton.

After the RIS staff was slashed to one position, RIS couldn’t provide the same level of services to Agilent. “I think the reduction in our staff led to them choosing to hire their own librarian,” said Buxton.

RIS charged by amount of time spent and on the basis of which specialized tools were used in a search.

Buxton said among the most challenging efforts was the assignment by a Saudi official who wanted RIS to find America’s top urban planners. “The government there had some business for the people we helped them find,” Buxton said.

“The client got what he wanted. And he hired us for additional work,” said Buxton.