Overview

Entech was contracted by Talbot County Free Library to perform an FCA for their St. Michael’s location to help them better understand the physical condition of their facility in order to anticipate potential costs of system renewals and project those expenses over a ten-year period. Built in 1988, the 7,700 sq.ft. library was evaluated by Entech’s team of experienced professionals by visual survey and discussions with maintenance staff. The FCA team identified deferred maintenance, capital renewal, capital improvement, and capital construction projects.

Of the numerous projects identified through the FCA, the projects of primary concern included the following:

• The building is located near rivers/bay and sits at sea level. Water intrusion is noted around the building during storms. A dedicated study was recommended to outline potential options to reduce flooding.
• The building is located near rivers/bay and sits at sea level. Water intrusion is noted around the building during storms. A dedicated study was recommended to outline potential options to reduce flooding.
• Automatic door operators were recommended for the front and inner rear doors to assist with accessibility.
• A magnetic hold open was recommended for the conference room door to address the issue of propping a fire-rated door.
• Improvements to interior finishes, including carpeting replacement, were recommended.
• Replacement of the half-moon windows at the front of the building was recommended.

Following the survey, the Library was presented with a ten-year comprehensive spending plan. All proposed projects are prioritized and individually scheduled for specific years. Year-by-year breakdown of the project types (i.e., deferred maintenance vs. renewal) are depicted, as well as overall annual budget trends.

Armed with data from the FCA, the Talbot County Free Library is equipped to plan ahead for major expenditures and to maintain their facility while continuing to fulfill their mission of “inspiring their community to discover ideas and information to enrich and renew lives.”