[Eril-l] Primary Research Group Releases New Survey on Academic Library Facilities Management and Space Use Planning

[Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list]

Primary Research Group has published a new research report, Survey of
Academic Library Facilities Management: Space Use Plans, ISBN
978-1-57440-025-0, providing a comprehensive, data driven look at how
academic libraries are allocating space, managing user demand, and planning
for future change. Based on survey responses from a wide range of U.S.
academic institutions, the report benchmarks seating capacity, study room
provision, space conflicts, print to user space conversions, and long range
planning practices.

The study is organized around detailed tables and breakouts by enrollment
size, Carnegie classification, building age, footprint, tuition level, and
public/private status. It is designed to help library administrators,
campus planners, and facilities managers compare their own conditions to
peer institutions and identify emerging trends in space use.

Five key findings from the survey include:

1. Public seating capacity varies dramatically by institution type. Across
the entire sample, libraries report an average of 394 public user seats
(median 274), but research universities average 1,065 seats, compared with
just 60 seats at community colleges, underscoring major scale differences
by Carnegie class.
2. Group study rooms are far more common than single person rooms.
Libraries report a mean of 10.0 group study rooms versus 4.7 enclosed
single person rooms, reflecting sustained demand for collaborative space
alongside individual study.
3. Noise and conflict are widespread concerns. Nearly 49% of libraries
report that group rooms are a source of conflict or noise spillover at
least “sometimes,” with libraries occupying less than half a building
reporting the highest rates of frequent conflict.
4. Print stacks are being reduced to make room for users. A majority
(53.3%) of libraries report reducing print stack space in the past three
years to expand user space, with research universities and large enrollment
institutions most likely to report major reductions.
5. Formal space planning remains a major gap. Almost 45% of libraries
report having no current space plan, while only 15.6% have a plan updated
within the past two years, highlighting a disconnect between rapid space
change and long term planning.

The report also examines what types of spaces are most often added during
renovations, which spaces librarians say are most under supplied, and which
seating types are expected to grow in use over the next several years—led
by quiet individual study space and soft/lounge seating.
For a table of contents, excerpt and other information, view the product
page for this report on our website at:

https://www.primaryresearch.com/AddCart.aspx?ReportID=880
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