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Library market books another good year

Construction spending on new facilities and renovations escalates in a slow economy

Dave Barista, Associate Editor

February 1, 2003

Building Design and Construction

Despite the sluggish economy, library construction spending increased 12.9% last year, according to a recent report by Library Journal, a sister publication of Building Design and Construction. Between July 2001 and June 2002, more than $788.4 million was spent by local, state, and federal governments on library construction work — the highest level in six years and a 12.9% increase from the 2000-2001 level of $686.4 million. Last year, 212 public library projects — including 101 new buildings and 111 additions and renovations — were completed, representing nearly 4.5 million sq. ft. of construction put in place.

Though library construction spending remains steady, the number of projects ties the third lowest count in 14 years. Only fiscal year 1998, with 197 projects, and fiscal year 1999, with 195, had fewer total projects. The completion of several huge libraries is one main reason for the discrepancy between construction dollars and number of projects. Massive projects include the new $65.3 million, 330,000-sq.-ft. Memphis (Tenn.) & Shelby County Public Library and the $47 million, 89,000-sq.-ft. Cerritos (Calif.) Library.

Funding for the 212 projects came predominantly from local governments, to the tune of $675.5 million, which represented 87% of total funding, The remainder came from charitable contributions/gift funds, which totaled $60 million (8%), and federal and state coffers, with $38 million (5%).

Libraries still struggling

Despite healthy construction spending levels, many libraries are facing a budget crunch, resulting in layoffs, closures, and cutbacks in operating hours, according to the Library Journal report. For instance, the Seattle Public Library — beneficiary of a $196.4 million bond issue and a hefty amount of private fundraising — found itself so short on operating funds that it closed for a week last August.

Visit www.libraryjournal.com.

Library construction spending escalates despite tough economy

	1999	2000	2001	2002
No. of new buildings	77	114	80	101
No. of additions/renovations	118	127	132	111
Sq. ft. of new buildings	1,555,583	1,752,395	1,924,548	2,144,185
Sq. ft. of additions/renovations	2,188,221	2,272,684	2,215,702	2,351,100
New construction costs	$283,967,624	331,345,167	400,838,076	429,787,571
Addition/renovation costs	$280,604,091	301,200,950	285,583,407	358,658,087
Total project cost	$564,571,715	632,546,117	686,421,483	788,445,658
Source: Library Journal, a Reed Business Information publication