Facilities Management & Planning - Maximizing Efficiencies in Difficult Economic Times

The Facilities Management and Planning group is taking a closer look at internal processes to ensure we maximize efficiencies in FY 2010. In our effort to reduce operational costs, we adopted a new strategy in delivering custodial services to JPL facilities. In October 2009, we switched from nighttime janitorial cleaning to daytime cleaning at all 21 branches and eliminated hourly day porters at 13 locations. The reduction in services will save JPL $312,000 annually, while enabling staff to closely monitor daily cleaning activities. Branch managers are reporting that the change has resulted in improved cleaning of their facilities. Another benefit of the daytime switch is the reduction of contract security staff at the Main Library saving JPL an additional $16,000.

Recently we continued our efforts to promote sustainable building practices by installing 19 electric hand dryers in public and staff restrooms at the Main library. Thirty five additional hand dryers are slated to be installed in upcoming months at AR, CW, DU, KR, NW and WBK. Once completed, paper towels will be removed from public and staff restrooms, reducing consumable paper products at those locations. We expect to see significant savings as a result of the decrease in paper towel orders.

In other exciting ‘sustainable’ news, the Facilities Management and Planning group established a partnership between JPL and the North Florida Chapter of the US Green Building Council to promote residential green building practices. The USGBC will hold workshops at seven library locations beginning January 14th at SOM. The workshops will provide information on advantages and incentives for local home-owners to build ‘green’, or remodel their homes with energy efficient products and appliances. Promotional flyers and posters were distributed to the branches to stimulate workshop attendance. Please visit http://greenjpl.wordpress.com/ for more information.

As we are continuously challenged to do more with less, FMP staff will keep working with vendors throughout the year to find cost-effective solutions for delivering services while ensuring that customer and staff needs are met.