[Eril-l] Primary Research Group has released a new study, Survey of Academic Library Facilities Management: Capital Investment Plans, ISBN 978-1-57440-028-1

[Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list]

Primary Research Group has released a new study, *Survey of Academic
Library Facilities Management: Capital Investment Plans*, ISBN
978-1-57440-028-1,
offering a data‑driven look at how academic libraries are managing aging
buildings, deferred maintenance, and capital renewal in an era of
constrained funding.

Based on survey responses from academic libraries across institution types,
sizes, and governance models, the report reveals a sector that clearly
understands its facilities risks—but often lacks the planning tools and
funding predictability needed to address them. The findings portray
libraries managing decline through incremental fixes rather than executing
comprehensive modernization strategies.

*Five Key Findings from the Report*

1.      *Capital renewal has been limited or absent for most libraries.*\
Over half of surveyed libraries (51.12%) report either limited renovation
(35.56%) or no renovation at all (15.56%) over the past five years,
indicating widespread deferred reinvestment rather than systematic renewal.

2.      *HVAC systems represent the dominant infrastructure risk—but are
underfunded.*\ While 64.44% of respondents identify HVAC systems as the
most likely source of major disruption, only 33.33% plan HVAC improvements
in the coming year, highlighting a gap between risk awareness and capital
action.

3.      *Most libraries lack quantified deferred maintenance backlogs.*\
Nearly two‑thirds of libraries (64.44%) do not maintain a quantified
estimate of deferred maintenance, severely limiting rational capital
planning and long‑term budgeting.

4.      *Preventive maintenance remains largely reactive.*\ Two‑thirds of
libraries (66.67%) describe their preventive maintenance programs as mostly
reactive, reinforcing cycles of emergency repairs and frequent service
disruptions.

5.      *Furniture and space reconfiguration serve as visible stand‑ins for
deeper investment.*\ Seating and furniture replacement is the most common
near‑term priority (42.22%), often functioning as a user‑facing proxy for
modernization when major mechanical or structural work is unaffordable.

To view an excerpt and table of contents, follow the following link:
https://www.primaryresearch.com/AddCart.aspx?ReportID=882
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.eril-l.org/pipermail/eril-l-eril-l.org/attachments/20260312/5b1c8835/attachment.htm>