Administrator's Guide to Library Building Maintenance

Library administrators in the US are responsible for physical plants valued in the billions of dollars, yet too many of these administrators are poorly prepared to manage them. This work seeks to provide more guidance by providing a practical presentation of a comprehensive building maintenance programme. All aspects of a building maintenance programme are covered, including: maintenance management; keeping the library clean and attractive; preventive maintenance; staffing and budgeting for the maintenance programme; energy utilisation and management; safety considerations; and emergency preparedness and disaster recovery. In the chapters describing the facilities and equipment to be maintained, the authors signal what can go wrong, what to watch for, and key considerations to maintenance procedures. Nearly 20 figures and 5 appendixes help to illustrate the specific, day-to-day details and tools needed to make the maintenance programme work. From regulations and codes governing building maintenance to custodian job descriptions to a standard operations manual for building maintenance, the level of detail here should make this book a valuable guide for administrators.