Urbanska, Wanda (2009). A greener library. American Libraries, 40(4), 52-55
The article looks at how librarians can make a difference, as libraries move toward environmental friendliness. While building a green library may represent the largest public statement any community can make to show its support for sustainability, several measures can be taken to move existing facilities in that direction. Information on the LEED-certified silver library in Fayetteville, Arkansas is presented. Numerous libraries have also moved beyond internal recycling to assuming a more public role in the battle to curb the effects of global warming.
Ekberg, Camilla; Carozzi Bjurström, Andrea (2019). A greener option for e-book acquisition? Our experiences of a platform for individual selection: Poster presented at IFLA WLIC 2019, Athens, Greece.
E-book suppliers offer various ways to purchase e-books, such as Demand Driven Acquisition (PDA) models as well as different packages. Most often the package options include additional e-books that never were, nor will be, in demand in your Library. These additional e-books might not come with a great extra initial cost. However, they most probably will make an unnecessary carbon footprint. According to Landauer’s principle data processing will always require a certain minimal power expenditure. One way to make sure we acquire only e-books in demand is to handpick them, a method considered to be time consuming and costly. In this poster we use graphs and pictures to illustrate and evaluate the Humanities Library’s purchase pattern for e-books outside packages over the last 10 years. We compare statistics such as price, subject, access and different purchase options. Two different purchasing methods were used during these 10 years: EBL’s PDA-model (2009-2014) and acquisition from the GOBI Library Solution’s platform (2016-2019). In 2004, the University of Gothenburg became the first university in the world to be environmentally certified under both ISO14001 and EMAS. How can we incorporate environmental aspects into our future acquisition?
Ewen, Lara (2018). A movable feast: Libraries use mobile kitchens to teach food literacy. American Libraries, 49(9/10), 12-15
This article describes the mobile food program at the Camden County (N.J.) Library System.
Gisolfi, Peter (2009). A sustainable library, inside and out. Library Journal, Library by Design, Spring 2009, 6
The article discusses the Darien Library as a sustainable site and building. The Library building is made up of concrete and concrete block which has a high thermal mass to sustain a interior temperatures that are comfortable and work well with the geothermal heating and cooling systems. The site where the Library is located was formerly a toxic land but has been remediated into a sustainable green site with honey locust trees.
Sahavirta, Harri (2012). A visit to the library reduces your carbon footprint: The library, pioneer in environmental sustainability. In Sonkkanen, Leila; Asikainen, Minna; Sahavirta, Harri (Hrsg.), Green@library (S. 14-19).
Miller, Rebecca T. (2015). A win for sustainability: ALA’s resolution is an important start. Library Journal, 140(13), 8
The article discusses a Resolution of the Importance of Sustainable Libraries passed at the 2015 annual meeting of the American Library Association (ALA). Details on the ALA's Sustainability Round Table (SustainRT) which proposed the resolution, are presented. Resilience planning in libraries and communities is also discussed.
Smith Aldrich, Rebekkah (2015). ALA Council overwhelmingly passes resolution on the importance of sustainable libraries!
On Sunday, June 28th, 2015 at the American Library Association (ALA) Conference in San Francisco (CA) the governing body of ALA, Council, overwhelmingly passed the Resolution on the Importance of Sustainable Libraries.
Blog at WordPress.com (2017). ALA Live Webinars: Mindfulness for Librarians
Panel: Dr. Richard Moniz, Martin House, and Kenley Newfeld This post provides describes the panel discussion held in the latest ALA Live Webinar entitled “Mindfulness for Librarians”. The latest issue of American Libraries contains an article on this subject. I have tried to capture as much of the panelists’ discussion as possible, but the full…
Moniz, R.; House, M.; Newfeld, K. (2017). ALA Live Webinars: Mindfulness for Librarians
Panel: Dr. Richard Moniz, Martin House, and Kenley Newfeld This post provides describes the panel discussion held in the latest ALA Live Webinar entitled “Mindfulness for Librarians”. The latest issue of American Libraries contains an article on this subject. I have tried to capture as much of the panelists’ discussion as possible, but the full…
Tseng, Shu-hsien (2007). AN eco-building, a healthy life, and good service: A new century in public library architecture. Public Libraries, 46(4), 50-55
The article discusses the building of the Bei-tou Branch Library (BBL) in Taipei, Taiwan, as a green building. Green buildings, as defined by the article, are buildings which coexist with the environment, by having a low impact on the environment which surrounds them. Environmental goals which the government of Taiwan has in regards to green buildings are discussed. Demands which were made on the architects in regards to building the library, and aspects which the author feels should be taken into account when designing green buildings, are mentioned.
Charney, Madeleine K. (2014). Academic librarians and the sustainability curriculum: Building alliances to support a paradigm shift. Collaborative Librarianship, 6(1), 20-35
Berkeley Electronic Press Selected Works, Sustainability is a fast evolving movement in higher education demonstrated by a proliferation of academic programs and co-curricular initiative and projects. After a review of sustainability-related LibGuides (online resource guides) created by academic librarians, a survey was administered to their developers during the spring of 2011 and posted on library listservs. Librarians returned 112 survey responses which reflected active roles in the paradigm shift toward sustainability through the forging of partnerships across campus and development of teaching resources and events. Telephone interviews conducted with 24 of the respondents showed librarians' wide-ranging personal and professional interest in sustainability, and their initiatives to promote its cause, including creating resources, collections, exhibits and events; library instruction; co-teaching with faculty; serving on sustainability committees, and collaborating with sustainability faculty and staff. A case study of the engagement of University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries with campus sustainability initiatives as well as the author's professional development activities shows that librarians promote sustainability in numerous ways on their campuses and through professional associations. However, both the survey and the interviews suggest that librarians often lack contact or knowledge of work undertaken elsewhere. Moreover, as the needs of students and faculty studying sustainability increase, libraries should appoint librarians with special responsibilities in this field.
Hauke, Petra (2020). Academic libraries of the world: Exemplars, educators, enablers for sustainable development. Nazarbayev University Library
Sustainable thinking and going green are undoubtedly on the agenda worldwide. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) adopted the United Nations Agenda 2030 to demonstrate the key role of libraries as engines for sustainable development. The purpose of this study is to motivate and encourage academic libraries to take a leading role in their communities to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Agenda 2030 and to stimulate further research on the topic. This study identifies, for the first time, outstanding examples of sustainable libraries from all over the world. It focuses on academic libraries that took part in the IFLA Green Library Award competition or those that published their project as an SDG story on the Library Map of the World. The examples given depict how libraries and access to information address the demands across all SDGs. Tools such as a checklist, a short literature review and relevant websites complement the study. Academic libraries and librarians can learn by example and adopt strategies and solutions proven to be successful in other countries. By doing so, they can join a global movement to act as exemplars, educators, and enablers for sustainable development (IFLA, 2018).
Yebei, Jepchumba Beatrice; Nyakundi, James Nyambane; Pham, Ba Toan (2019). Academic library as social network site for climate change: Poster presented at IFLA WLIC 2019, Athens, Greece.
Academic Library as a Social network site is made up of an interconnection among students, faculty, researchers, and educators with public areas to exploit Information and Repositories of Climate Change. USIU-A library and information center librarians designed a programme to highlight the effects of climate change to the current society. The library conducted climate literacy classes within the library and in classes. Provided mobile library service that promoted demand driven acquisition of books on climate change. This poster shares the experience of academic libraries being champions of climate change in the user communities they serve and also offers further recommendations to strengthen the campaign through inclusion of NGO’s, Volunteer groups, donors among others.
International Federation of Library Associations; Institutions (2016). Acces and opportunity for all: How libraries contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
Jain, Priti; Jibril, Lynn (2018). Achieving sustainable development through libraries: Some preliminary observations from Botswana public libraries: Paper presented at IFLA WLIC 2018, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sustainable development in the 21st century is based on access to information and knowledge. Like their counterparts, African libraries have recognized the key role of libraries in achieving sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The National Library of Uganda provides ICT training to female farmers to access weather forecasts, crop prices, and to set up online markets in their local languages. Nigerian Librarians developed a SDGs Action Group on Facebook to achieve SDGs. Similarly, public libraries in Botswana are actively engaged in achieving sustainable development goals. For example, supporting Goal 8, some public libraries provide basic ICT training to empower community so as to increase access to information for career and job opportunities leading to social and economic development. To support Goal 4: Quality education, some Public Libraries provide homework assistance to children to build strong educational foundation. To address Goal 5, Gender Equality, some public libraries in Botswana organize gender related activities to support girls and women. The aim of this paper is to share Botswana public libraries' initiatives toward sustainable development. The data for this paper was collected through interviews with the librarians, who are actively involved in SDGs and observations.
Kavuri-Mutuku, Purity (2018). Action to combat climate change and its impact: Green library initiatives at the Kenya National Library Service. In Hauke, Petra; Charney, Madeleine; Sahavirta, Harri (Hrsg.), Going green: implementing sustainable strategies in libraries around the world (S. 86-93). De Gruyter Saur. DOI: 10.1515/9783110608878-009
Meyers, Jane Kinney (2016). Addressing SDGs and library relevance by serving the majority: introducing innovative child/youth public library services in Zambia: Poster presented at: IFLA WLIC 2016, Columbus, OH.
Library services to children and teens have been barely existent in Zambia, even though young people account for nearly 70% of the country’s population. Undergraduate and master’s level LIS education is offered at the University of Zambia, but the programs include no courses on children or youth services. Public libraries in the nation have been poorly supported and not seen to be playing an important role in the lives of its citizens. Libraries do not have acquisitions budgets because of the misperception that book donation programs can provide needed materials, and thus the librarians do not perform the core library activities and functions of defining user needs, collection development, selection and acquisition of materials. Technology and innovation have also evaded the public library sector in Zambia. The poster will show how Lubuto Library Partners (LLP) has collaborated with Zambia’s library community and stakeholders for over a decade to address these issues and, in partnership with Government and the Zambia Library Service, create dynamic, impactful, heavily used and highly visible libraries serving children and youth. Photos and data will illustrate LLP innovations, their enthusiastic acceptance by society and the library community, and the role the libraries play in helping Zambia achieve the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.
Garcia-Febo, Loida; Kim, Ju; Sailo, Lallaisangzuali; Jain, Vinita; Tugwell, Yolanda (2017). Advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Experiences of international academic and research libraries. College & Research Libraries News, 78(9), 516-520. DOI: 10.5860/crln.78.9.516
In this article, the author focuses on the experiences of international academic and research libraries. It mentions the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations (UN) to guide development efforts worldwide. It also mentions the working of International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) information and communication technologies (ICTs).
Senyolo, Mokgadi Rebecca; Matolong, Harry (2017). Advocacy for libraries: A South African perspective: Poster presented at IFLA WLIC 2017, Wrocław, Poland.
Libraries have been presented with an unprecedented opportunity to make a contribution to the development agendas, principally the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Libraries need to talk about the valuable work they are doing in their communities by making use of activities, data/ statistics, and stories, to relate to the SDGs and to align themselves with national development plans. Most South Africans still do not have adequate access to libraries or information services. Communities in rural parts of the country have been largely excluded from any meaningful development and suffer from a lack of infrastructure. Illiteracy, unemployment, health care, economic development and education remain major national challenges. Having access to libraries and information could make all the difference to the quality of lives and circumstances for all people. Libraries have a critical role to play in the lives of information deprived communities. Not only do libraries nurture and grow literacy, but also they are better positioned to serve community development and enhance social cohesion.
Bats, Raphaëlle; Delaune, Camille; Insaurralde, Gustavo (2019). Agenda 2030 et les bibliothèques françaises: Poster présenté à IFLA WLIC 2019, Athènes, Grèce.
Faire de sa bibliothèque un pilier pour le développement durable local : un exemple d’advocacy en France. Point d'accès à l’information (comme le rappelle la Déclaration de Lyon (2014), les 65000 bibliothèques et centres de documentation français (source : public libraries 2020) sont des acteurs essentiels du développement durable. Leurs missions leur permettent de répondre à tous les objectifs de développement durable de l’Agenda 2030 de l’ONU. Cependant, en être convaincu ne suffit pas, en avoir la preuve chaque jour au sein de nos établissements ne suffit pas non plus. Il convient de savoir le dire, le montrer et le prouver aussi bien auprès des élus et des publics que des bibliothécaires eux-mêmes. C’est dans cet objectif que l’IFLA a mis en place le programme IAP (international advocacy programme), grâce auquel deux bibliothécaires français ont été formés pour développer des projets d’advocacy basés sur l’Agenda 2030 dans le contexte français. Ce poster vise à présenter les actions menées suite à cette formation pour s’organiser, collecter des données, sensibiliser les bibliothécaires, produire des contenus et mener des premières actions de lobbying et d’advocacy. Le poster montrera l’importance de s’organiser en un groupe de travail efficace, capable d’avoir une audience nationale et de mettre en place un programme d’action pour les années à venir ; en d’autres termes une bonne illustration de l’objectif 17 de l’Agenda 2030. Une bonne organisation ne peut avancer sans matériel sur quoi baser son travail. Aussi, l’étape suivante aura été la collecte d’exemples et d’histoires, pour montrer la participation active des bibliothèques envers tous les objectifs de l’Agenda 2030. Dotés de témoignages, nous avons accompagné nos collègues à la maîtrise d’un discours de plaidoyer sur les bibliothèques actrices du développement durable. Pour cela, nous avons fait des formations et créé un serious game collaboratif. La facilité à défendre les bibliothèques à l’oral n’épargne pas un travail sur les documents qui peuvent être fournis aux élus et décideurs. Aussi, le groupe de travail a créé une base de données, un site web et un fil d’actualités, ainsi qu’une brochure de témoignages d’actions françaises menées pour chacun des objectifs de l’Agenda 2030. Ainsi prêts, nous avons mis en pratique nos acquis dans trois situations de lobbying à Genève (ONU), à New York (Ambassades auprès de l’ONU) et à Bruxelles (Parlement Européen). Ces premières expériences nous ont permis de faire un petit guide pour mieux se préparer à ces rencontres parfois courtes avec les décideurs. Le travail n’est pas fini. Il nous reste encore des outils de sensibilisation (vidéo) à développer, des contacts à consolider (avec une carte de voeux), des formations à assurer (au niveau francophone), etc. Ce poster présente donc un point d’étape de l’action menée pendant deux années pour sensibiliser les professionnels de l’information français à l’Agenda 2030 et à l’expression de leur rôle dans la réalisation de ses 17 objectifs.
Please send comments, additions or suggestions to the bibliography to Beate Hörning.
The Bibliography Green Library is created in cooperation with the IFLA Special Interest Group ENSULIB (Environment, Sustainability and Libraries).