The study offers 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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.