Free Virtual Conference on Sustainabiliy Wednesday! April 6, 2010

A FREE virtual conference promoting best practices in sustainability
9-5pm Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Hosted by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Committee on Sustainability, focusing on academics in North Carolina,
but anyone interested welcome to join in all day or part of the day!

Program Presentations:
Sustainable Transportation Practices
Sustainability Across the Curriculum
Climate Change Mitigation & Sustainable Energy Initiatives
Sustainable Practices in Facilities, Grounds, & Housekeeping
Master Planning for a Sustainable Campus

In addition to the program presentations we will show our “Sustainable Shorts” – films produced by UNCG students, highlighting a particular issue of sustainability and winners of the UNCG Sustainability Shorts Film Competition.

Sign up and get more details: http://sustain.uncg.edu/

Note: several librarians (including me!) are a part of this committee & conference planning group – get involved outside your library walls and make things happen!

Academic Library Article March 24, 2010

Academic Librarians – be sure to read the article in March 2010 College and Research Libraries journal by Maria Anna Jankowska and James W. Marcum called Sustainability Challenge for Academic Libraries: Planning for the Future
Abstract

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.

Power Shifts 2009 on college campuses October 7, 2009

Many campuses around the country are hosting Power Shift ’09 Regional Summits where young voters are asking “President Obama and Congress to pass a clean energy jobs plan by December to rebuild our economy, end our dependence on dirty energy, and bring America lasting security.” Check out the dates, locations, or how to get involved.

Greening of the Campus VIII July 29, 2009

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in conjunction with Ball State University is hosting the eight biennial Greening of the Campus conference with the theme Embracing Change Sept 20-24, 2009 in Indianapolis, IN. Early Bird Registration deadline August  14, 2009.  Check out the registration fees,  schedule and the keynote speakers. The conference will offer pre and post conference events, an expo “the green campus exposition,” evening receptions and all conference proceedings will be published in CD form only to minimize paper printing.

Bicycle Lending Library July 1, 2009

Alfred University (NY) will check out bicycles to students, faculty and staff starting fall 2009 “just as they would a book at Herrick Library.”   For a nominal fee ($3 for two days and $5 for a week)  users can borrow and return one of the 20 Fuji hybrid bikes, after filling out a usage and liability form – and can take a bike lock and helmet as well. Money raised will be used to sustain the program by covering repair and maintenance costs. The program -  started by a student Ian Cramer who loves biking and hopes to provide access to others to enjoy riding as well as be green -  received  $10,000 in funding from the AU Student Senate to purchase the bikes. Space at campus gym (no, not the library!) will serve as the rental and maintenance shop, where the fleet of bicycles will be stored

ACRL Offers Virtual Conference Participation January 30, 2009

If you cant travel to Seattle for ACRL, you can be green and save money! Participate in the ACRL 2009 Virtual Conference, held completely online,  with synchronous and asynchronous activities.  Each registration includes unlimited access to the online conference community for one year after the event.

Registration is now open. (3/6/09 is the deadline to register)

Costs:
ACRL member – $165 / ALA member – $205 / Nonmember – $245 / Full-time student – $75 / Group: up to three attendees – $295 / Group: 4-9 attendees – $595 / Group – 10 or more attendees – $995

Note: Face-to-face Seattle conference participants receive complimentary access to the conference community as part of their conference registration.

CALL FOR AUTHORS: Green Series January 29, 2009

Excerpt from Earth Forum Web site:

“We are inviting academic editorial contributors to the Green Series, a new electronic reference series for academic and public libraries addressing all aspects of environmental issues, including alternative energies, sustainability, politics, agriculture, and many other subjects that will comprise a 12-title set. Each title has approximately 150 articles (much like encyclopedia articles) on major themes, ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 words. We are starting the assignment process for articles for Volumes 4 – 6 in the series with a deadline of May 1, 2009:

• Volume 4: Green Cities
• Volume 5: Green Business
• Volume 6: Green Consumerism

This comprehensive project will be published in stages by SAGE eReference and will be marketed to academic and public libraries as a digital, online product available to students via the library’s electronic services. The Series Editor is Paul Robbins, Ph.D., University of Arizona, and the General Editor for Volumes 4 and 5 is Nevin Cohen, Ph.D., The New School, and General Editor for Volume 6 is Juliana Mansvelt, Ph.D., Massey University. Both the series editor and general editors will be reviewing each submission to the project.

If you are interested in contributing to this cutting-edge reference, it can be a notable publication addition to your CV/resume and broaden your publishing credits. SAGE Publications offers an honorarium ranging from SAGE book credits for smaller articles up to free access to the online product for contributions totaling 10,000 words or more per volume.

The list of available articles is already prepared, and as a next step we will e-mail you the Article List (Excel file) from which you can select topics that best fit your expertise and interests. Additionally, Style and Submission Guidelines will be provided that detail article specifications.

If you would like to contribute to building a truly outstanding reference with the Green Series, please contact me by the e-mail information below. Please provide a brief summary of your academic/publishing credentials in environmental issues.

Thanks very much.

Ellen Ingber
Author Manager
Golson Media
green (at) golsonmedia.com “

Sustainability is a campus buzzword October 9, 2008

The Kept-Up Academic Librarian notes in a recent blog post that going green can improve more than just a carbon footprint; it’s seen as fundamental and an incentive to students, parents, and even potential donors. The post refers to an article called Planet Earth 101 (from boston.com) that mentions sustainable initiatives and programs on various college campuses.  More and more of these initiatives, endowments, institutes, degree programs, and campus pledges to be sustainable are occurring on college campuses (many of them student driven) creating competition amongst these institutions. Students are starting to demand more green credibility from colleges and this will continue to increase as environmental issues become more mainstream.

Don’t get left behind in the library – promote your sustainable practices, such as access to electronic resources (less paper), online tutorials (learn from wherever you are), chat services(ask for help without driving to the library), etc.

Greening of Information Technology Podcast Available July 23, 2008

For those academic librarians, if you missed this keynote address from the EDUCAUSE 2008 Enterprise Conference at the end of May, you can listen to the podcast by EDUCAUSE President and CEO, Diana Oblinger.  The slides are also available to follow along while listening to the 55minute podcast. Abstract: The environment is the largest enterprise system of all, and one that is impacted by information technology. As “green” initiatives and sustainability become a greater part of our consciousness, “green computing” will receive increasing focus in higher education. This presentation will explore sustainability, energy use, and “reduce, reuse, and recycle” programs.

Take Survey to make ACRL ’09 Conference GREEN February 21, 2008

The new ACRL Green Conference Committee wants to minimize the environmental impact of the 2009 National Conference in Seattle, WA.  You can add your input and help the Green Conference Committee by completing this brief survey about ways to “green” the conference The survey should take 5-10 minutes. The deadline to complete it is Friday, February 29