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Green Libraries

Green Libraries. Yvonne LaRoche-Pardo University of North Carolina at Greensboro LIS 600 10/23/13. Introduction:.

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Green Libraries

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  1. Green Libraries Yvonne LaRoche-Pardo University of North Carolina at Greensboro LIS 600 10/23/13

  2. Introduction: “Green” libraries (also known as “sustainable” libraries) are becoming more and more essential as the planet undergoes changes from a climate perspective as well as from a limited resource perspective.

  3. The New World Encyclopedia (2013) describes the phrase “green library” as being a library built with environmental concerns in mind. Green libraries are a part of the larger green building movement. The term “sustainability” is described by the Merrian-Webster Dictionary (2013) as “involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources.”

  4. The term “greening” means “having more care for the environment.” Greening is a process and a state of mind that calls for action. Greening involves reciprocity. We take care of the environment and it takes care of us. (Le Ber and Gregory, 2004)

  5. What is the issue? • “The majority of scientists around the world now agree that the planet is under stress. The Nobel Prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded in their report that “global warming is 'unequivocal' and that human activity is 'very likely' causing most of [the] rise in temperatures” (Rosenthal & Revkin, 2007, para. 1). • This means people and institutions will need to change their behaviors so they can begin repairing the planet. •  The time is right for librarians to step up and help communities become green and sustainable. Antonelli, 2008

  6. In recent years, due to alarming information concerning global warming and our environment’s vulnerability, more and more libraries are using green practices. The American Library Association (“ALA”) has had an essential role to play in helping this take place in libraries throughout the U.S. (Jankowska, 2011)

  7. Sustainable libraries are becoming more and more commonplace, especially in college and university libraries. Most academic institutions explicitly state a mission, and often the mission includes a commitment to sustaining the earth and its environment. Most people think of a green library as being a library building that is certified as being environmentally friendly.

  8. To many, a green library is not necessarily defined by a green building, but rather by a green mission. Aulisio (2013) describes sustainability as: “Sustainability is "meeting the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs" (United Nations, 1987).”

  9. The future will hold green libraries, and the push now is to move beyond environmental sustainability to focusing on proactive steps to ensure sustainable development of libraries in the future. The idea is for sustainable development to advocate a balance between economic growth, social equity, and ecology "that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” Jankowska, 2011

  10. Why are “green” libraries an ethical/advocacy issue? • Sustainable strategies have become more important as the earth undergoes drastic changes to its climate and the ecosystems dependent upon it. • We must reduce the carbon footprint of our buildings. • According to The U.S. Green Building Council, U.S. buildings produce 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. • Most of the energy resources we use are finite. Antonelli, 2008

  11. One role of the library is to serve the community. Communities need libraries and librarians to act as role models for sustainability by giving accurate information on various aspects of green topics, from alternative building practices to renewable energy options. This is a great time in history for librarians to support and continue to grow the Green Library Movement. Antonelli, 2008

  12. Most schools want to teach young people to be citizens who care about their communities and are active in its preservation, and this is one of the reasons sustainability is an important issue. Some of the toxic cleaners used in libraries can actually trigger allergies and asthma attacks in our patrons who are children! Antonelli, 2008

  13. How Could We Tackle This Issue? • All libraries, regardless of size, budget, type, or location, can actively participate in "green weeding," another form of library resource sharing (Penniman, 2008). • Weeding ensures that collections, like gardens, stay green and healthy, but libraries can also strive to reduce their footprint by making conscious and collective efforts to pursue only environmentally friendly discard options. (Penniman, 2008). • Some conventional ways to weed are book sales and book giveaways. • Discarded children’s materials can be sent to early education classrooms.

  14. Greening issues for libraries include disposing of packaging, gifts that are not needed, weeded materials, paper waste, junk mail, outdated computers, computer discs, CDs, and audiovisuals, and routine waste including paper, glassware, etc. (Le Ber and Gregory, 2004) The Valley Hi-North Laguna Library in Sacramento, CA uses passive cooling (ways to cool buildings without power), daylight harvesting (adjusts light in response to daylight), rainwater catchment, and efficient lighting systems. Finished in 2009, this Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (“LEED”) Gold energy building reduces energy consumption by 39.6% below the energy standards and save $18,200 per year in energy costs. (Blaevoet, 2011)

  15. Passive Cooling

  16. It has become more affordable than ever for libraries to “go green,” and, for those that cannot afford to build a new building, renovating an existing library building is a great option. Workshops geared toward implementing sustainability into courses would be useful to librarians, as they then could use concrete strategies to promote libraries that are friendly to the environment. A strong foundation of books regarding sustainability Organizing online sustainability resources.

  17. Encouraging the use of reusable water bottles  Implementing a water bottle purification system in the library in high traffic areas  Label recycling bins clearly with color-coded bins for paper, plastic, and trash.  Library employees can recycle materials that are no longer a part of the collection in the most sustainable way possible

  18. Host an environmental art show with submissions from students, staff, and faculty. By making a call for environmentally themed artwork, including pottery, paintings, photography, fashion, poetry, sculptures, and repurposed goods, librarians help to bring a more lighthearted and fun twist on an otherwise serious topic. (Aulisio, 2013)

  19. Textbook Recycle is a company in upstate New York that redistributes textbooks to nearby children's homes, nursing homes, and prisons. • Better World Books resells discards through many of the same online venues. Since its inception in 2004, it has partnered with more than 900 libraries. The company does offer free shipping and shipping from branches. • Better World Books also offers unsold materials to its own nonprofit partners before recycling the leftovers.

  20. One easy green step for libraries to help ensure the health of its employees as well as the planet is to avoid using toxic chemical cleaners and instead utilize cleaning products that are kind to the environment. There is a growing market of green cleaners that emit fewer fumes and are made with plant-based ingredients, such as soy. Antonelli, 2008

  21. Conclusion Fortunately, greening our libraries is becoming a more thoughtful process. Many libraries are now attempting to address this ethical issue because the future generations will be impacted by our actions now. There are many ways to tackle this problem, even on a strict budget. Greening libraries actually save energy costs in the long-term and makes the quality of our library experience more enjoyable in the short-term.

  22. References: • (2006, November 29). "decide tomorrow today!". Retrieved from American Library Association website: http://www.ala.org/srrt/tfoe/lbsc/librariesbuild. • Antonelli, Monika. (2008). The Green Library Movement: An Overview and Beyond. Electronic Green Journal, 1(27). Retrieved from: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/39d3v236 (peer reviewed) • Aulisio, G. J. (2013). Green libraries are more than just buildings. Electronic Green Journal, 1(35), 1-10. (peer reviewed) • Blaevoet, J., & Harriman, C. (2011). LIBRARY SETS EXAMPLE. ASHRAE Journal, 53(9), 48-52. (peer reviewed) • (2013). Retrieved from Bozeman Public Library website: http://www.bozemanlibrary.org/green/ • (2013 ) Retrieved from Green Libraries website: www.greenlibraries.org

  23. References (cont.): • (2013, September 28). Green library. Retrieved from Wikipedia website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_library • Jankowska, M. A. (2011). Going beyond Environmental Programs and Green Practices at the American Library Association. Electronic Green Journal, 1(32), 1-17. (peer reviewed) • Le Ber, J., & Gregory, J. M. (2004). Becoming green and sustainable: a Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library case study. Journal Of The Medical Library Association, 92(2), 266-238. (peer reviewed) • Loder, M. (2010). Libraries with a Future: How Are Academic Library Usage and Green Demands Changing Building Designs? College & Research Libraries, 71(4), 348-360. (peer reviewed)

  24. References (cont.): • (2013). Retrieved from Merriam-Webster Dictionary website: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustainable • (2007, February 2). Panel issues bleak report on climate change. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com • Penniman, S. (2008, September 15). GREEN WEEDING. Library Journal. p. 32. (peer reviewed)

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