Green Libraries Are More Than Just Buildings

George J Aulisio

doi:10.5070/g313514058

Abstract

Many colleges and universities across the United States have adopted sustainability in their curriculum and operations. Academic libraries need to support the mission of their university and therefore must also play their part in sustainability education and operations. The library and information science literature shows the term “green library” to be a hallmark for a library building with an environmentally friendly design. However, there are very few academic libraries in the United States that are LEED certified. I argue that a green library is more than what the architecture entails. By using example initiatives and providing recommendations for green library operations, it is determined that a green library does not necessarily entail a green building, but it does involve a green mission.

Highlights

Many colleges and universities across the United States have adopted sustainability in their curriculum and operations
The wealth of literature on how academic libraries contribute to sustainability, the phrase “green library” colloquially refers to a library building that is certified as an environmentally friendly building. This trend implies that a green building is a necessary qualification for a library to be considered a “green library.”
The author proposes that we shift the trend and use the term “green library” to refer to any library that promotes sustainability through education, operations, and outreach

Summary

Defining green libraries

The phrase “green library” is prevalent in library circles and seems to pervade the library and information science literature; for examples, see Antonelli (2008) and Brown (2003). The wealth of literature on how academic libraries contribute to sustainability, the phrase “green library” colloquially refers to a library building that is certified as an environmentally friendly building. This trend implies that a green building is a necessary qualification for a library to be considered a “green library.”. The author proposes that we shift the trend and use the term “green library” to refer to any library that promotes sustainability through education, operations, and outreach In their comprehensive literature review, Jankowska and Marcum (2010) identify four major areas of environmental and sustainable issues in the library literature: “(1) Sustainability of scholarship and collections; (2) Green library operations and practices; (3) Green library buildings; and (4) Measuring and improving sustainability” By engaging in these activities, librarians can support an ethical and academic mission of working within a sustainable lifestyle that will fully envelope their campus and beyond

The importance of learning about sustainability

Incorporating sustainability into librarianship

Using the library as a teaching tool

Sustainable operations and outreach

Conclusion