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In leadership literature, it is commonly assumed a simple action model in which action follows if the goal is clear, understood and accepted. Thus, the leader has only to clarify the goal, ensure resources and remove hindrances for the action. However, there is no action without a decision to act and rational decision-making requires that the person in question have all the relevant information. Sustainability as a goal may be appreciated but it is a vague one and information on sustainability is often uncertain. The decision may be harder than expected. In addition, our actions must conform to the situation, which consist in a network of agents and competing interests and goals. In this paper, the focus is on the clarification of the goal: the concept of green library. It commonly assumed that the green libraries are green buildings, which fulfil the LEED criteria and have some sustainable routines, like recycling and sorting waste. This means that librarians as information professionals have little to do with environmental sustainability; it is architects and engineers who design green buildings. Therefore, the definition of green library should be broadened to include green librarianship and information services. The evaluation work for IFLA Green Library Award has suggested some new criteria, or point of views, which should be taken into account when considering green libraries.

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While the literature on anti--consumption is rich and growing, there is still a lack of understanding among consumer researchers regarding why consumers choose to avoid consumption. This study seeks to extend the literature by exploring whether a group of consumers who reduce consumption through choosing to share rather than own are motivated by anti--consumption reasons. The authors use quantitative data from 397 toy library members to explore why members choose to participate in this form of sharing. The study reveals four groups -- Socialites, Market Avoiders, Quiet Anti--Consumers and Passive Members. The Socialites enjoy the social benefits of active participation in their library. The Market Avoiders also perceived social and community benefits, are interested in sharing and are the least materialistic of the groups. The Quiet Anti--Consumers feel a sense of belonging to their toy library and hold strong anti--consumption, frugality and sharing values. The Passive Members are not socially involved, nor did they hold strong anti--consumption values. Thus, the authors find evidence that sharing may be one possible alternative market structure that may be adopted by anti--consumption consumers.

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The article provides methods on how to promote sustainable practices at the ACRL 14th National Conference. It includes practicing the Green Pledge which calls for sustainability such as recycling paper handouts and the conference badge holder. Green giveaways such as a bag made of 51% recycled fabric and a corn plastic mug will also encourage participants to practice green initiatives.

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This article discusses the design of the Valatie Free Library in rural New York, which incorporates alternative energy sources to allow the library to achieve net-zero energy status. Topics include the involvement of architect David Bienn, the library's feature at the Rio+20 United Nations (UN) Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 2012, and the incorporation of design materials utilized in the rebuilding of New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.

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In early August, a major new scientific report concluded that when it comes to global warming, it may be too late to change course. Libraries have important roles to play in preparing our communities for the impact of climate change, and we must pledge to center sustainability in our operational practices.

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Public libraries in Finland have a strong history of cooperating and networking. Implementing SDGs and steering the action toward sustainability, however, has been so far carried out mainly out by individual libraries. A larger consensus or common guidelines are still missing, be it designing a new building, customer design thinking or rearranging internal workflows. This is to be changed, hopefully serving as an example to readers´ communities. The report presented current cases and current best practices on initiatives and concentrated on finding a broader common ground on sustainability work. Helsinki City Library will act as a nationwide accelerator and common voice promoting the step marks toward greener libraries. A nationwide expert network and community of practice is to be established as well. As one example of the development, the tight cooperation between public libraries and basic education in Finnish society will be discussed. For historical reasons public libraries operate to a large extent as school libraries, so the task of supporting curriculum on sustainability topics is a major task for public libraries as well. What does the future of this collaboration and its possibilities look like?

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Academic librarians have a notable opportunity to take the lead in ensuring reliable information enters the hands of community members, including leaders and activists. One area for improvement is the topic of sustainability---an issue not just for those interested or working in the sciences, but one for every living, breathing being.

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As I’ve spent more time working with OCLC’s Global and Regional Councils, I’ve come to an agreeable realization that’s maybe a bit of a paradox. The wider our professional networks become, the more likely we’ll find faraway colleagues whose local solutions fit our situations. Sometimes the best answers don’t come from next door, but from across the globe.

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Since the Executive Yuan in Taiwan established the Council for Sustainable Development in 1996, green building policies have become the focal point of domestic construction industries in pursuing sustainable development. The Architecture and Building Research Institute, Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan also began promoting the green building labeling system in 1999 and pioneered the demonstration of the concept by using public buildings to facilitate the comprehensive development of green buildings. Presently, private buildings are not strictly regulated; a mechanism for the use, management, and maintenance of public green buildings. Based on the andysis of the Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch, a mechanism for the use, management, and maintenance of public green building is proposed in this paper.

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NYLA's Sustainability Initiative provides New York's library leaders with time and resources to articulate how libraries adapt to our changing world while, as co-creators, shape strategies that ensure libraries remain vital, rebound from disruption, and provide on-going value to the communities they serve.

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o mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day---and recognize the American Library Association adding sustainability as a core value---American Libraries returns with its ongoing sustainability series. In these posts, information professionals share their experiences with sustainability in libraries. As academic libraries evolve to contribute to institutional missions and visions, librarians are transforming out of their ``regular'' roles to collaborate with students, faculty, and staff in achieving goals such as sustainability. But how can academic libraries help with this integral commitment?

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The reuse of old buildings for new libraries has gained currency within the Library and Information Science (LIS) profession and has informed sustainability initiatives. Adaptive reuse benefits the environment by conserving natural resources and minimizing the need for new materials. This chapter provides a review of some key documents on sustainability, green libraries and the recycling and conversion of buildings as libraries. Building reuse provides an opportunity for sustainable thinking in library planning. Sustainability and going green are already evident in library architecture and design and there is a need to encourage embracing greener practices and adaptive reuse. Sustainability and going green are growth areas for the future. Adaptive reuse and repurposing buildings that have outlived their original purposes for different uses or functions while at the same time retaining their historic features are viable alternatives to new buildings. Building reuse is occurring in developed countries while some developing countries are saddled with challenges slowing adoption of the trend.

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As a reoccurring feature on the Sustainability Roundtable blog, we will post reviews of books related to sustainability.

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There is growing concern that a variety of factors threaten the sustainability of academic libraries: developing and preserving print and digital collections, supplying and supporting rapidly changing technological and networking infrastructure, providing free services, maintaining growing costs of library buildings, and lowering libraries' ecological footprint. This paper discusses the multidimensional issues of sustainability in academic libraries and identifies needs for designing an integrated framework for sustainable strategies in academic libraries. Additionally, the paper presents a synthesis of existing literature on the increasingly popular topic of "green libraries'' and prepares a background toward developing a framework for sustainable strategies in academic libraries.

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Services, buildings, logistics, IT-equipment and much more – that is the library of today. These items are normally viewed from an economical point of view in a library’s yearly budget, but have libraries ever considered that they also have an impact on a library’s ecological sustainability? When you want to observe where and how ecological sustainability occurs in a library you should go beyond a purely economic analysis. By creating conditions for sustainable development, adding eco-efficiency as a measuring tool and generally acting in an environmentally friendly manner, library staff can assist in realizing the sustainability of the library. Dienstleistungen, Gebäude, Logistik, IT und vieles mehr – das ist die Bibliothek von heute. Normalerweise werden diese Elemente von einem ökonomischen Standpunkt im Rahmen eines Jahresbudgets betrachtet; doch wurde jemals daran gedacht, dass diese Themen auch einen ökologischen Effekt auf die Nachhaltigkeit einer Bibliothek haben können? Wenn man herausfinden möchte, wo und wie in einer Bibliothek auf ökologische Nachhaltigkeit Wert gelegt wird, muss man über die ökonomische Analyse hinausgehen. Die Einführung von Kriterien für nachhaltige Entwicklung, zusätzliche Eco-Effizienz als Messinstrument und das allgemeine umweltfreundliche Verhalten können helfen, die Nachhaltigkeit von Bibliotheken sichtbar werden zu lassen.

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Many in the library world are embracing sustainability initiatives in an effort to better serve our communities and planet. In this article the author explores the need to integrate preservation within the broader approach to library sustainability, as well as the challenges presented by sustainable preservation practices. The author addresses concerns including reducing the amount of waste produced, recycling options, and availability of environmentally friendly supplies through the presentation of a case study. In addition, the article further explores the complexities of sustainable preservation by promoting continued discussion on finding the balance between accepted preservation best practices and emerging trends in sustainable solutions.

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The world faces global ecological systems challenges of unprecedented severity and threat. The scientific reality of climate change has been politicized; President Trump has withdrawn the US from the Paris Climate Accords and the action has moved city and state leaders to offset this maneuver. The role of public libraries as hubs for reliable information, learning, and community building is ever more critical to our future resilience and sustainability.

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Purpose This paper aims to propose a model which serves to illustrate that a number of factors are responsible for, and contribute to, the different forms of sustainability of digital information services. It also seeks to identify some areas of information research and their interrelationship in the context of sustainability of digital information services. Design/methodology/approach This research is based on critical analysis of a range of research and policy documents, and an environment scan, in different aspects of sustainability of information systems and services. Recent and relevant past research studies as well as some relevant government policies and initiatives have been critically analyzed in order to identify various factors that are said to contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of information services. Findings It is noted that the sustainability of information has not been studied within the mainstream information science research. However, several previous research studies have produced findings and models that can be used to achieve some aspects of sustainability of information. It is also noted that various parameters of sustainability are inter-related and hence a proper research agenda has to be prepared, and concerted research efforts are needed in order to be able to develop and manage sustainable digital information services. Practical implications A model has been proposed showing the various factors to be studied for achieving the economic, social and environmental sustainability of information services. Interrelations among the different factors and their implications for sustainability of digital information systems services are also discussed. Originality/value The model is expected to open new vistas for research in the economic, social and environmental sustainability of digital information systems and services. It will develop new tools, technologies and applications for building sustainable information systems and services appropriate for the digital era.