ALA welcomed the December 18 release of a major national study about the condition of public library buildings. The study was conducted by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), a nonpartisan federal research agency, at the request of Congress. ALA advocated for the study to be undertaken. Key findings include that 70% of libraries have a backlog of deferred maintenance and repair, while 61% have at least one building system or feature that poses a health or safety concern.