Inhabitat’s 2012 Readers’ Choice Awards January 4, 2013

Inhabitat readers have been voting on their favorite stories of 2012! Check out the winners in a slideshow here or view each by category   So many good stories it’s hard to pick MY favorite:

• Editor’s Choice: Indian Man Single-Handedly Plants 1,360 Acre Forest
• Architecture: The Radisson Blu Hotel’s 82-Foot Aquadom Aquarium Brings Sea-Life and Scuba Diving to Berlin
• Science/Technology: Wilson Solar Grill Stores the Sun’s Energy For Nighttime Grilling 
• Transportation: Aerofex Develops a Working Hover Bike That’s Straight Out of Return of the Jedi!
• News: Indian Man Single-Handedly Plants 1,360 Acre Forest
• Energy: Germany Sets New Solar Record By Meeting Nearly Half of Country’s Weekend Power Demand
• Art: Takanori Aiba’s Amazing Bonsai Tree Castles are Miniature Living Worlds
• DIY/How-to: HOW TO: Grow an Avocado Tree from Seed
• Interview: Interview: Building Science Pioneer Dr. Joe Lstiburek on the Good, Bad and Ugly Side of Buildings
• Furniture/Interiors:Jake Dyson’s CSYS Lamp Extends the Life of Its LEDs by a Whopping 37 Years!
• Original Photos: Ray Villafane Unleashes an Insane Army of Ghastly Zombie Pumpkins at the New York Botanical Garden

AASHE & RIO+20 June 28, 2012

The AASHE blog allows for members to express thoughts and ideas with the wider AASHE audience. With the recent Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development,  the blog has offered summaries and thoughts on the conference’s effects on higher ed. I liked this particular quote and can see how libraries can be a part of these efforts though providing access and hence education to all:

I truly believe that higher education must be a leader in these efforts but we will not be effective unless we have a systems-based approach where our political, economic and social institutions work closely in collaboration with education across all ages and in much more applied and practical ways. The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative, launched by UNESCO and led by UN Asst Secretary Elizabeth Thompson, is a start, as it raises the recognition of higher education’s contributions to sustainable development efforts. (from Kim reports from #Rio20 post)

Stay informed and follow the blog online, through RSS feed or checkout AASHE other social network options.

Greensboro Public Library Branch as Environmental Center Library June 28, 2011

At the recent ALA Annual Conference the Top Innovators were announced by the Urban Libraries Council including one noted for sustainability.  The Greensboro Public Library (NC) Kathleen Clay Edward Library is stated to be the first library to be an Environmental Education Center (according to the article in Library Journal).  This library branch sits on 98-acre Price Park  and includes a bird and butterfly meadow, reading garden, walking trails, ponds, and wetlands and offers extensive collection of nature, gardening, and environmental resources for children and adults. Though their web site is poor the library and area are beautiful, and if you are ever in the Greensboro area, check it out or Like them on Facebook!

Gulf Oil Spill… what else can you do? June 11, 2010

Support the Gulf Coast Surveillance Teams through the National Wildlife Federation who is going to monitor the 10,000+ miles of coastal wetlands, marshes and beaches for signs of the oil spill’s impact to the ecosystems of the Gulf by collecting data and assisting with restoration efforts.

What do they need? (from the NWF website)

• 200 GPS units (marine and shore) - The Surveillance Teams are making observations both along the shore and on open water that are based on coordinates.
• Digital Cameras - Many of our volunteers have them, but many do not, so we are hoping to set up a loaner program for digital cameras.
• Gift Cards to purchase items - To help us fill in the holes of necessary supplies, gift cards are a very useful thing to donate, preferably to Dicks, Cabalas, REI, Staples, Office Depot, Target, Walmart or other stores that provide the materials below.
• Kit materials for volunteers - (Need about 400 of each item to get started)
  - Clipboards
  - Laminate sheets or machine
  - Sunscreen
  - Gas gift cards
  - Water Bottles
  - Backpacks
  - Bug repellent or jackets
  - Hats
  - Pens

Send donations to:

National Wildlife Federation
Attn: Oil Spill Volunteer Network
11100 Wildlife Center Drive
Reston, VA 20190

Read more!

Salem Press Library Blog Award June 2, 2010

I love being considered quirky so thanks to Salem Press for their Library Blog Awards, granting this Going Green @ your library blog 3rd place in the “quirky library blogs” category!  Do check out the other quirky blogs (some are hilarious!), as well as the other wonderful library blogs, many of which I already follow and worth a read. Thanks to Hannah (The Global Librarianship blogger) who nominated me in the first place

Milwaukee Public Library Green Roof Web Cam May 13, 2010

How cool is this? not only did Milwaukee Public Library create a 30,000 square feet  green roof atop their historic building, but they also offer a webcam to watch it grow.  You can view maps of the layout, what they planted and see photos of the progress in building this awesome green roof. Green roof tops not only are beautiful and green, but they are energy efficient and will save you money!  Read more about green roof benefits.

Soles4Souls April 19, 2010

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day this week, Soles4Souls (a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies and people!) hopes to collect over 150,000 gently used shoes!  They are partnering with mall around the county and you can find the location nearest to you to drop off a pair.  I wonder if any libraries are partnering to collect? Why not create your own fundraiser?  Many schools and organizations are getting involved. What a great idea!

Green LJ Mover & Shaker April 2, 2010

Congratulations to  Rebekkah Smith Aldrich of  Mid-Hudson Library System (Poughkeepsie, NY) for being recognized as a Library Journal 2010 Mover & Shaker for her community building and greener library efforts! She is a community builder, supporter and advocate  (and advocate trainer) for her member libraries, including promoting why green and sustainable practices show libraries as “good stewards of the public tax dollar.”   She has a certification as a Sustainable Building Adviser, is a LEED accredited professional, blogs at Sustainable Libraries and has a recent presentation available online called Greening Your Library (@ NYPL 2009).

350.org December 14, 2009

With the UN Climate Summit happening in Copenhagen, 350.org is asking people around the world to start the push to educate and unite on this past weekend of December 12th, with candlelight vigils, marches, and other local action.  That’s 350 as in parts per million – the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere.  The 350.org group was started by author Bill McKibben and includes people from all walks of life and all over the world. Inform your staff, student, patrons etc. about 350.org.

Open Air Library (in Germany) November 17, 2009

Check out the Magdeburg’s Open Air Library made from over 1000 beer cartons and incorporating parts of the facade from the city of Hamm’s demolished Horten warehouse (and with the help of designer  Karo Architekten) It’s both a cultural center and a “pop-up library” where books (which were gathered by residents and donated) are free to take and leave 24 hours a day. The grassy plaza area has a “reading cafe and a stage that hosts elementary school theater plays, public readings, concerts, and other cultural events.”