Information/Library Facilities refer to the physical spaces where library systems are located, encompassing aspects such as security, IT requirements, energy management, space utilization, and cleanliness. Building direct relationships with staff members maintaining these facilities is crucial for effective management and preservation of materials.
In terms of facilities, however, most of us think on the larger scale of a building. Knowing where the building’s systems are located, and generally how they operate are just one part of understanding a facility. Library facility management involves many aspects: security, information technology requirements, and capacity, energy management, space utilization, pest management, and even cleanliness. A wide array of literature exists on these topics and is well worth exploring if needed. However, my experience has been that while the literature is useful in helping to learn the right questions to ask of the staff who maintain the building and its systems; creating direct relations with these staff members is equally important. For example, I always made it a point to introduce myself to each new custodial staff member who cleaned the special collections area I managed. I would give them a quick tour, and we would talk about the cleaning schedule, and the special cleaning supplies needed to protect the materials; since that information sometimes was not always communicated by the supervisor. Afterward the new custodial staff member felt more a part of the team that cared for that area, not just the cleaner, and I had reassurance that the materials I was charged to protect would be taken care of when unsupervised staff were in the space.