As John Muir wrote “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.” The inspirational quote has long guided me in life knowing that my actions – or lack of action – has a profound effect on the world. My other passion is librarianship –freedom and access to all information, ideas, and resources for people everywhere. My goal is to connect these two important aspects of my life and myself as a human being living (temporarily) on this Earth. This blog lists ideas, practices, tools, and techniques to help green libraries, librarians, and the communities they serve – possibly saving money or even raising money too. So here’s to a greener library and a sustainable future for all.
- One of several recommended blogs by American Libraries editors
- Salem Press Blog Awards: 3rd for Quirky
- Creating a Green Environment @ your library – workshop for Southwest Workshop Days presented on 10/8/09 & 10/09/09
- Going Green @ Your Library: A More Environmentally Friendly Library Environment workshop through SELMS on 6/25/09
- Inspiration, Innovation, Celebration Conference panel presentation on 6/3/09 & 6/4/09
- NC Parapro Conference keynote panel and presentations on 5/15/09
- ALA’s 2009 State of America’s Libraries: Academic Libraries
- ForeWord This Week interview Jan 14, 2009: Libraries Go Green
- Going Green @ Your Library presentations in Chicago: Nov 6, 2008 at NSLS and Nov 7, 2008 at MLS
- ALA Press Release Sept 30, 2008: Get Environmental @ your Library

Hi. I thought you might be interested in my new article, “The Green Library Movement: An Overview and Beyond”. You can read it online at:
http://repositories.cdlib.org/uclalib/egj/vol1/iss27/art1/
Happy Holidays!
Monika
Monika – It’s a great article with wonderful references to key resources. Thanks for all you do to promote the green library movement (including http://www.greenlibraries.org/) Beth
Hi Beth,
I just wanted to give a huge Thank You to you. I recently
did a presentation, Ever Green, at the CO Assoc. of Lib.
Conference, and your blog was a huge help. You have so many great links there and your presentations are wonderful! Please keep it up, you are really helping the environment and helping libraries be models for sustainable practices in our communities.
BTW, I have a blog for public libraries (see http://blogs.bcr.org/publiclibraries/ ) and I do occasionally write about green libraries (the post about Salt Lake City’s main library’s green roof has a good pic…) – Thanks again! Justine
Beth, this blog is a wonderful resource! You and your readers may be interested in a new study commissioned by OCLC Research, “Greening ILL Practices.” I’ve posted on the preliminary findings at hangingtogether.org.
Cheers,
–Dennis Massie
Thanks for the info! I just posted about your findings and look forward to the full report (I was head of the ILL dept for while too so especially interesting.)
Dear Beth,
Great blog! Would you like to have a link to it added to the forthcoming resources list of the IFLA SIG Environmental Sustainability and Libraries?
Regards,
Veerle
Yes! that would be great to add to the blog. I’ll find it online or send to me!
Hi, nice to meet you !