McBane Mulford, Sam; Himmel, Ned A. (2010). How green is my library?. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 978-1-59158-780-4
While there is a broad spectrum of ecological sophistication within libraries nationwide and some regions are at the forefront of sustainable of sustainable design and operations, others are just beginning or have yet to integrate materials recycling into their daily practice. A few jurisdictions are mandating LEED certified buildings and carbon-neutral practices, while others do not yet have these concepts on their radars.
Stoss, Frederick W. (1999). How green is my library? Conference reports, New York Library Association 1999 Annual Conference. Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship, 24, Fall. DOI: 10.5062/F4125QMR
"Building Partnerships for Learning" formed the theme for the 1999 New York Library Association Annual Conference. When contemplating this theme the 30th Anniversary of Earth Day (April 22, 1970) came to mind as a pivotal event that contributed greatly to building environmental partnerships that have shaped perceptions about our environment for three decades. The "battle cry" of the first Earth Day, "Think Globally. Act Locally!" was the setting for a comprehensive examination of several major environmental issues and how libraries play major roles by supporting our learning about complex and controversial environmental topics. "How Green Is My Library?" the title of this session, reflects a question that addresses the roles libraries play related to environmental issues and concerns.
Lenstra, Noah (2020). How public libraries are helping us find nature during the crisis
Within days of closing their facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the 17,452 public libraries in communities across the United States started reminding patrons how to utilize their outdoor spaces and services, and their electronic resources, to stay connected to nature. As ubiquitous community institutions full of staff well-versed on the latest and greatest technologies, public libraries have been ideally situated to continue encouraging children and families to get outside and stay active during these trying times.
Hauke, Petra (2015). How to become / How to identify a Green Library? Standards for certification: Paper presented at: IFLA WLIC 2015, Cape Town, South Africa.
Over the last decades there are libraries all over the world following the “green way”. In the US some are certified by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), constructed and designed to fulfill these high standards for certification as a “green” building through the rating system. But there are additional criteria for libraries to fulfill the ideas and ideals of environmental sustainability. Besides being an environmental friendly building the library can act as educator and leader through driving an eco-friendly office management, eco-friendly user services, exemplary eco- friendly activities and offering information and courses in and eco-friendly lifestyle. Drawing upon a recently defended master thesis in Germany, the purpose of the paper is to propose the development of a sector-specific certificate to award libraries as a “Green library”. The certificate is awarded not only for building aspects but specifically for services and management systems. The objective of this paper, presented at the IFLA conference, is to define systematically all aspects of an environmentally sustainable library through a certification system. And additionally, to recommend Environmental Sustainability and Libraries SIG (ENSULIB), as the only official worldwide initiative for promoting (awarding?) green libraries with an “ENSULIB Green Library Certificate”.
Karioja, Elina (2013). How to evaluate libraries’ sustainability? An approach to an evaluation model and indicators: Paper presented at IFLA WLIC 2013, Singapore.
This paper originated from conclusions I wrote down in doing my thesis about sustainability in libraries. At first it is necessary to understand library’s recycling role in society and its sustainable development in basic functions like borrowing and returning books or offering open and free space to the public. Environmental certifications like LEED or environmental management systems (ISO 14000) are not fully compatible with libraries and they lack the understanding of special features of libraries. Oulu University of Applied Sciences is planning a project in order to meet this need and creating an evaluation model and indicators of sustainable development for libraries. Sustainable areas taken into consideration in evaluating library’s sustainability could be space, green IT, strategies, collection management, location and environmental awareness of both public and staff. It is also noteworthy to consider different levels of analysis: users, library staff, decision makers and host organization. Users should be offered recycling points for books and waste, staff should be committed to sustainability and communicate their awareness. Library strategies should include a sustainable point of view. It is noteworthy that the library is often a part of a large organization in a municipality, town or school, college, university etc. If the host organization has an environmental management system, library is most likely a part of that. In cases where there is no environmental policy in a host organization, it is much more difficult to follow one. Sustainability needs commitment from every person in the organization. As a result of this project, a specific libraries’ environmental label and auditing system could be developed which would increase environmental awareness among staff and customers and would make libraries greener, more sustainable, which is the ultimate objective. One can optimistically state that this model could be used worldwide and this project made international from the very beginning.
Chowdhury, Gobiinda G. (2016). How to improve the sustainability of digital libraries and information Services?. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 67(10), 2379-2391. DOI: 10.1002/asi.23599
Coyle, Catrina (2008). How to make your library green. American Libraries, 39(4), 43
The author suggests several print and online resources for existing libraries to promote environmental awareness and sustainable design. They include the Green Libraries web site www.greenlibraries.org, the California Integrated Waste Management cost calculator site, and the book textquotedblPlanning Public Library Buildings: Concepts and Issues for the Librarian,textquotedbl by Michael Dewe.
Stoss, Fred (2008). If we are so smart, why do we need environmental education?. Electronic Green Journal, 26, 1-3
The author reflects upon the need to promote environmental education in the U.S. He states that several organizations, like the National Wildlife Federation have initiated education programs related to environment and conservation of natural resources. He mentions about the National Environmental Education Act of 1990, that aimed to increase environmental literacy in the U.S. He stresses on the need to incorporate environmental education in elementary and secondary schools.
Sistema Nazionale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente (2017). Il ruolo sociale delle Biblioteche di interesse ambientale
La Rete SI-Documenta rientra sicuramente nel novero delle biblioteche cosìddette “di interesse ambientale” (BIA).
Mulumba, Onan; Akullo, Winny Nekesa (2018). Information dissemination is not enough: Preparing librarians for effective climate change effects mitigation in Uganda. In Hauke, Petra; Charney, Madeleine; Sahavirta, Harri (Hrsg.), Going green: implementing sustainable strategies in libraries around the world (S. 197-209). De Gruyter Saur. DOI: 10.1515/9783110608878-019
Spink, Amanda (1999). Information science in sustainable development and de-industrialization. Information Research, 5(1)
This working paper brings together concepts and ideas about the role of information in the future of humanity. Different views have emerged within the international debate on sustainable development - a global industrialization view centers on sustaining global industrialization and a new moral order that advocates societal downscaling and de-industrialization based on regional self-sufficiency to preserve humanity. This working paper briefly outlines these approaches to sustainable development and their relationship to information science research. Both views are distinguished by their approach to de-industrialization. Global industrialization includes pockets of de-industrialization of communities and regions, and societal down scaling includes a de-industrialization process to a sustainable community. De-industrialization is therefore a growing interdisciplinary area of research within sociology, urban planning and policy, and economics. However, information science research is becoming primarily concerned with the informational dimensions of the global industrialization - not de-industrialization. Despite the growing interdisciplinary literature on sustainable development and de-industrialization, the informational aspects of these important issues have yet to be fully explored.
Züge, Jana (2018). Integration von Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung in die bibliothekarische Aus- und Fortbildung: vorgelegt zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades Bachelor of Arts im Studiengang Bibliotheksmanagement, Fachbereich Informationswissenschaft.
Alpi, Kristine M. (2000). It's not easy being green: A survey of staff experiences with environmental issues in sci-tech and other libraries. Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship, 26. DOI: 10.5062/F4TQ5ZH0
Earth Day 2000 is time to study what is being done in libraries to promote the well-being of the environment. In March 2000, sixty-five STS-L Listserv subscribers responded to a survey asking about environmental policies and committees, individual and institutional attitudes and behavior related to recycling, and the effects of electronic journals and reserves on copying and printing. The responses provide some data on environmental activities in the libraries of STS-L subscribers. Information and tips on reducing, reusing and recycling supplement the results with concrete ideas on improving the environment in libraries.
Walters, William H. (2008). Journal prices, book acquisitions, and sustainable library collections. College & Research Libraries, 69(6), 576-586. DOI: 10.5860/crl.69.6.576
Library collections are economically sustainable only if the rate of increase in costs is no greater than the rate of increase in the library acquisitions budget. Because book prices increase at a much lower rate than journal prices, undergraduate libraries can achieve economic sustainability through a renewed emphasis on books rather than journals. Book-centered collections are consistent with the goals of many undergraduate colleges, and books rather than journals may provide the best teaching resources even in those fields that rely heavily on journals for the communication of original research results.
Leskinen, Saara (2012). Kotka Is Going Green. In Sonkkanen, Leila; Asikainen, Minna; Sahavirta, Harri (Hrsg.), Green@library (S. 20-23).
Benedikt, Ingrid (2015). Können Schweine fliegen? Wie lässt sich Natur vermitteln?. Büchereiperspektiven, 2, 36-37
Einige Ideen zu Aktionen und Umweltspielen für drinnen und draußen.
Benedikt, Ingrid (2015). Können Schweine fliegen? Wie lässt sich Natur vermitteln? Einige Ideen zu Aktionen und Umweltspielen für drinnen und draußen. Büchereiperspektiven, 2, 36-37
Ziller, Monika (2018). Können wir von der Arbeit US-amerikanischer Bibliotheken lernen? Ein Erfahrungsbericht einer „Librarian in Residence“. BuB, Forum Bibliothek und Information, 70(12), 702-705
Monika Ziller, Direktorin der Stadtbibliothek Heilbronn und (bis Ende 2017) geschäftsführende Vorsitzende de Landesverbandes Baden-Württemberg im Deutschen Bibliotheksverband, hat als »Librarian in Residence« im Januar 2018 in den USA Erfahrungen aus den amerikanischen Bi-bliotheken zum Thema UN-Nachhaltigkeitsziele erkundet. Während ihres Fachaufenthalts in Washington D.C., New York und Chicago hat sie sich intensiv mit dem Thema auseinandergesetzt, wie Bibliotheken zu der Zielerfüllung der 17 UN-Nachhaltigkeitsziele beitragen und dadurch sichtbarer werden können.
Baratta, Yveline (2020). La Bibliothèque nationale de France: Vers des lendemains plus verts?. Bibliothèque(s), Vert-ueuses bibliothèques (Dossier)(102-103), 32-37
Tammaro, Anna Maria (2014). La Dichiarazione IFLA di Lione e gli obiettivi del millennio. Biblioteche Oggi, 32(10), 3-5. DOI: 10.3302/0392-8586-201410-003-1
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).
