The ALA Midwinter Conference will be held January 15-19 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center at 415 Summer Street in Boston, MA. Hurry, advance registration ends today, December 4. There will be 200 discussion groups, 2000 committee meetings, exhibits, speakers, authors and more things to see than time to see them.
http://www.ala.org/ala/conferencesevents/upcoming/midwinter/2010/index.cfm Copy and paste this for more information.
Friday, December 4, 2009
A little history
The idea of a green library movement has been gaining momentum since the 1990's. Brian Walsh feels that in 2007, the understanding of climate change became a common idea, a tipping point. Monika Antonelli feels that now the green library movement has become a common idea, our own tipping point. The Green Library Journal was first published in 1992 and libraries and more green publications and ideas followed. Often the green movement manifests itself in green building projects, conserving resources and green programs for members. ALA's (American Library Association) task force on the environment (TFOE) was established in 1989. The ALA conference in 2009 was promoted as a green conference. AASL (American Association of School Librarians) proclaimed their 2007 conference as green. SLA (Special Libraries Association) joined in 2008, promising to become an environmentally sensitive organization. At these conferences both sides of paper was used, print outs were few in favor of electronic screens and cups were given out freely to save using paper products. And of course before any scientist realized that people need to think green, libraries were cooperating and sharing resources with each other and their communities.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
National Geographic blog
Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, here is a blog from the National Geographic Society about being green and Thankful. http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/thegreenguide
Monday, November 23, 2009
The basic issue
The basic issue is Libraries' role in environmental sustainability. We have seen:
1. Libraries have programs to foster, teach and promote environmental sustainability. These are geared to many different types of users.
2. New library buildings are required to be built to LEED standards. Grants are requiring many specific standards.
3. Librarians can attend conference to learn what can be done to encourage library users and use environmental sustainability in the library. Library organizations are a part of this.
4. Librarians and library users communicate in blogs, discussing the importance of environmental sustainability and what that entails.
To refer back to the quote that began this blog, libraries always have been, are now and will continue to be "One of the seven sustainable wonders of the World." Thank you Dr. Donelle H. Meadows.
1. Libraries have programs to foster, teach and promote environmental sustainability. These are geared to many different types of users.
2. New library buildings are required to be built to LEED standards. Grants are requiring many specific standards.
3. Librarians can attend conference to learn what can be done to encourage library users and use environmental sustainability in the library. Library organizations are a part of this.
4. Librarians and library users communicate in blogs, discussing the importance of environmental sustainability and what that entails.
To refer back to the quote that began this blog, libraries always have been, are now and will continue to be "One of the seven sustainable wonders of the World." Thank you Dr. Donelle H. Meadows.
Are Libraries involved in sustainability?
Hmmmm, lets see; are libraries involved in sustainability?
Library Journal sponsors a Design Institute each year and in 2008, Phoenix City librarian Toni Garvey (2004 LJ Librarian of the Year) reminded the audience to think of libraries as naturally part of the solution to the problem of global warming. "Libraries are inherently green and alsways have been," she said. "We buy something and thousands of people use it." At the 2008 Design Institute West, her words echoed in the remarks of luncheon speaker Jared Blumenfeld, director of San Francisco Department of the Environment. "We need to show people how green libraries are already," he said. But he took it another step and declared that libraries can be, indeed already are, at the center of the answer to the problem of climate change. "For me, the tag line is, Libraries are the solution," he said, referring to the options provided by the green buildings themselves and the answers people find in them when they get the information they need.
The Ann Arbor District Library sponsored a month-long series of programs and events in May 2002 on sustainaability. Libraries prove to be an ideal environment for exploring such a broad, interconnected topic as sustainability, not only because of the position as a community center and reputation as an educational resource in their own right, but also because of the libraries' mission-driven commitment to reuse and recycle through the materials-lending policies.
Library Journal's Sustainability Institued has held seminars in various areas of the United States for six years.
When I checked the Library Literature and Information Schience Full Text dataabase, I found 46 hits with the terms library and sustainability. One article went so far as to give Andrew Carnegie credit for being sustainable because of his philosophical endeavors. I would not go that far, but libraries and environmental sustainaability are definitely linked and historically libraries have shared in these concerns and solutions.
Library Journal sponsors a Design Institute each year and in 2008, Phoenix City librarian Toni Garvey (2004 LJ Librarian of the Year) reminded the audience to think of libraries as naturally part of the solution to the problem of global warming. "Libraries are inherently green and alsways have been," she said. "We buy something and thousands of people use it." At the 2008 Design Institute West, her words echoed in the remarks of luncheon speaker Jared Blumenfeld, director of San Francisco Department of the Environment. "We need to show people how green libraries are already," he said. But he took it another step and declared that libraries can be, indeed already are, at the center of the answer to the problem of climate change. "For me, the tag line is, Libraries are the solution," he said, referring to the options provided by the green buildings themselves and the answers people find in them when they get the information they need.
The Ann Arbor District Library sponsored a month-long series of programs and events in May 2002 on sustainaability. Libraries prove to be an ideal environment for exploring such a broad, interconnected topic as sustainability, not only because of the position as a community center and reputation as an educational resource in their own right, but also because of the libraries' mission-driven commitment to reuse and recycle through the materials-lending policies.
Library Journal's Sustainability Institued has held seminars in various areas of the United States for six years.
When I checked the Library Literature and Information Schience Full Text dataabase, I found 46 hits with the terms library and sustainability. One article went so far as to give Andrew Carnegie credit for being sustainable because of his philosophical endeavors. I would not go that far, but libraries and environmental sustainaability are definitely linked and historically libraries have shared in these concerns and solutions.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
News to use
Libraries are leaders in environmental sustainability and responsibility. What concerns people concerns libraries. So environmental sustainability and responsibility are library concerns. As gateways to information, libraries are seen as leaders in the community. In this place libraries can serve to lead users, members and the community in the environmental sustainability movement.
An article full of resources and ideas is in The Unabashed Librarian and the article title is Going Green Starts @ Your Library. This is found in Ebsco's GreenFile database.
Libraryjournal.com's Design Institute has been sponsoring a series of seminars with the going green theme. Number six will be December 11, when our blogs are due. Information can be found at www.libraryjournal.com/info/CA6672415.html and this one is free. This seminar is in Texas and is a one day seminar on green design, plus an optional tour of Dallas Public Library's new LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) libraries. They will bring together leading architects, designers, librarians and vendors for the challenges facing libraries creating 21st century sustainable buildings. This is a day long series of green themed presentations, panels and breakout sessions to learn the developments, options, costs and strategies being developed. Also each attendee with have the opportunity to participate in two hands on breakout sessions with architects. The focus of the breakout sessions will be design challenges submitted by attendees prior to the event. All attendees will have a chance for their design challenge to be selected by the architects. The design challenges need not be solely going green, but the architects will incorporate green solutions.
Louisville Free Public Library has a monthly 6R Movement program for ages 12-19. Students learn to reduce waste and reuse unwanted or discarded items by creating unique, environmentally friendly products. The next program is November 9, 2009. The six Rs are Reduce, Reuse, Reclaim, Redesign, Recycle and Renew. It is not the three Rs anymore.
An article full of resources and ideas is in The Unabashed Librarian and the article title is Going Green Starts @ Your Library. This is found in Ebsco's GreenFile database.
Libraryjournal.com's Design Institute has been sponsoring a series of seminars with the going green theme. Number six will be December 11, when our blogs are due. Information can be found at www.libraryjournal.com/info/CA6672415.html and this one is free. This seminar is in Texas and is a one day seminar on green design, plus an optional tour of Dallas Public Library's new LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) libraries. They will bring together leading architects, designers, librarians and vendors for the challenges facing libraries creating 21st century sustainable buildings. This is a day long series of green themed presentations, panels and breakout sessions to learn the developments, options, costs and strategies being developed. Also each attendee with have the opportunity to participate in two hands on breakout sessions with architects. The focus of the breakout sessions will be design challenges submitted by attendees prior to the event. All attendees will have a chance for their design challenge to be selected by the architects. The design challenges need not be solely going green, but the architects will incorporate green solutions.
Louisville Free Public Library has a monthly 6R Movement program for ages 12-19. Students learn to reduce waste and reuse unwanted or discarded items by creating unique, environmentally friendly products. The next program is November 9, 2009. The six Rs are Reduce, Reuse, Reclaim, Redesign, Recycle and Renew. It is not the three Rs anymore.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
2 sustainable sites not necessarily for libraries
Here are 2 more sites, more for people, but people use libraries and we need to get the information to them.
The Sustainable Future is a blog with tips about how to live a more sustainable lifestyle
http://curtrosengren.typepod.com/sustainable
The sustainable route has a map to follow along on a road trip of places that a couple men visited. They went around the USA where people are trying to save the Earth, a piece at a time and live sustainable lives. Did they get to your state?
http://sustainableroute.com
The Sustainable Future is a blog with tips about how to live a more sustainable lifestyle
http://curtrosengren.typepod.com/sustainable
The sustainable route has a map to follow along on a road trip of places that a couple men visited. They went around the USA where people are trying to save the Earth, a piece at a time and live sustainable lives. Did they get to your state?
http://sustainableroute.com
Thursday, October 8, 2009
October is Energy Awareness Month
In honor of Energy Awareness Month, here are some more blogs and information of interest.
We have seen: thegreenlibraryblog.blogspot.com This is connected to Alliance Library. There is even a Facebook group connected to this one. I just type in green in the search box. There are 23 posts as to why the green library. The first one mentions LEED, but many are environmentally responsible. Post #9 is a MSLIS student like we are.
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has a blog. There is a how will you observe Energy Awareness Month. Go to the October 09 posts http://www.eereblogs.energy.gov/energysavers/default.aspx
check out: greeningyourlibrary.wordpress.com, and in French http://ecotheques.ning.com/
Here is a Library Journal article: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6515841.html
and pictures: http://ritterpubliclibrary.org/building-blog
ALA has a taskforce on the environment as part of the social responsibilities round table. Library Journal has a design institute and seminar. IFLA has an Environmental Sustainability and Libraries Special Interest Group.
Yes, you can see that Environmental responsibility involves Libraries.
We have seen: thegreenlibraryblog.blogspot.com This is connected to Alliance Library. There is even a Facebook group connected to this one. I just type in green in the search box. There are 23 posts as to why the green library. The first one mentions LEED, but many are environmentally responsible. Post #9 is a MSLIS student like we are.
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has a blog. There is a how will you observe Energy Awareness Month. Go to the October 09 posts http://www.eereblogs.energy.gov/energysavers/default.aspx
check out: greeningyourlibrary.wordpress.com, and in French http://ecotheques.ning.com/
Here is a Library Journal article: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6515841.html
and pictures: http://ritterpubliclibrary.org/building-blog
ALA has a taskforce on the environment as part of the social responsibilities round table. Library Journal has a design institute and seminar. IFLA has an Environmental Sustainability and Libraries Special Interest Group.
Yes, you can see that Environmental responsibility involves Libraries.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Some Green thinking libraries
Another way libraries are leading is in environmental design. Constructing a green library building, using a performance standard like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is one way some libraries are becoming green and sustainable. A green building is built with some of five design elements: Select appropriate sites for environmental sustainability; efficient use of water resources; energy conservation or renewable energy and protection of atmosphere; conserve building materials, reduse waste and use natural resources; and protect indoor environmental quality.
Look what three libraries did:Ritter Public Library in Vermilion, Ohio is building a very sustainable building. Movies are at: http://ritterpubliclibrary.org/building-blog
The Yatesville Public Library in Georgia is built with a southerly direction, uses a large roof overhang, windows for natural light, insulated concrete floor for thermal storage, insulation with R-30 and R-13, ceiling fans and florescent lighting. www.rurallibraryproject.org/YPLEnergy.html
Poland Library in Poland, Ohio has walls of windows;encorporated an existing building, recycled materials; the roof is recycled rubber; and many other recycled items have been used, besides local talent. Photos and a virtual tour are at: www.libraryvisit.org/polandproject.htm
Do any of you have LEED green libraries? With many grants, these ideas are incorporated in the requirements.
Look what three libraries did:Ritter Public Library in Vermilion, Ohio is building a very sustainable building. Movies are at: http://ritterpubliclibrary.org/building-blog
The Yatesville Public Library in Georgia is built with a southerly direction, uses a large roof overhang, windows for natural light, insulated concrete floor for thermal storage, insulation with R-30 and R-13, ceiling fans and florescent lighting. www.rurallibraryproject.org/YPLEnergy.html
Poland Library in Poland, Ohio has walls of windows;encorporated an existing building, recycled materials; the roof is recycled rubber; and many other recycled items have been used, besides local talent. Photos and a virtual tour are at: www.libraryvisit.org/polandproject.htm
Do any of you have LEED green libraries? With many grants, these ideas are incorporated in the requirements.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Two conferences coming up
I wanted to get this posted soon. Two conferences are scheduled in the coming weeks. One is an online conference. I do not plan to attend either of them.
The first is the Greening of the Campus Conference, which is hosted by AASHE and Ball State University. This is the seventh Greening of the Campus Conference and Expo and will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sept. 20-23, 2009. It will include keynotes, sessions, workshops, products and services, demos, food, bookstore/book signings, etc. The registration deadline is today, but I am not sure if any of us could go. No on site registration was available. There is a limited number of reduced-fee student registrations still available. Contact Peggy Weis at pdweis@bsu.edu/greening. websites: http://www.campussustainability.info/events/ball-state-university and also www.bsu.edu/greening
The second conference is the Going Green Online Library Conference and is sponsored by the Amigos Library Services. Information is also on their blog: www.amigos.org
Conference information is as follows:
When: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central time, Wednesday October 7, 2009
Where: online
Guest speaker: Florence Mason, general session speaker
Cost: Amigos members: $275.00; Amigos non-members: $325.00; students: $150.00
A group discount of 20% is given to groups of five or more from one institution, but it doesn't apply to the student rate.
Topics covered include an introduction to green technology, new or renovated buildings, practical strategies for libraries, green IT, and alternative energies.
Registration is open to anyone and continues to October 1, 2009.
http://greenlibs.amigos.org/node/2
The first is the Greening of the Campus Conference, which is hosted by AASHE and Ball State University. This is the seventh Greening of the Campus Conference and Expo and will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sept. 20-23, 2009. It will include keynotes, sessions, workshops, products and services, demos, food, bookstore/book signings, etc. The registration deadline is today, but I am not sure if any of us could go. No on site registration was available. There is a limited number of reduced-fee student registrations still available. Contact Peggy Weis at pdweis@bsu.edu/greening. websites: http://www.campussustainability.info/events/ball-state-university and also www.bsu.edu/greening
The second conference is the Going Green Online Library Conference and is sponsored by the Amigos Library Services. Information is also on their blog: www.amigos.org
Conference information is as follows:
When: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central time, Wednesday October 7, 2009
Where: online
Guest speaker: Florence Mason, general session speaker
Cost: Amigos members: $275.00; Amigos non-members: $325.00; students: $150.00
A group discount of 20% is given to groups of five or more from one institution, but it doesn't apply to the student rate.
Topics covered include an introduction to green technology, new or renovated buildings, practical strategies for libraries, green IT, and alternative energies.
Registration is open to anyone and continues to October 1, 2009.
http://greenlibs.amigos.org/node/2
Saturday, September 12, 2009
For those who like to shop
Here are some products to advertise your dedication to going green at your library.
Check out http://www.zazzle.com/keychain-146393952108015813. It is by the DuPage Library System and if you click on that name, you will find more products. Shop til you drop.
Check out http://www.zazzle.com/keychain-146393952108015813. It is by the DuPage Library System and if you click on that name, you will find more products. Shop til you drop.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Environmental sustainability and libraries
"The public library has been called 'one of the seven sustainable wonders of the world.' The written wisdom of the world at the fingertips of anyone with a library card! The average American pays $20 a year in taxes to support public libraries and can save that much by borrowing instead of buying just one or two books. A book that is loaned ten times cuts not only cost but paper use per reader by a factor of ten." Dr. Donella H. Meadows, Dartmouth College, writer, teacher, farmer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
