Be sure to check out the University of North Texas digital library collection of Environmental Policy online resources. Search, browse, share, view, read online! They have other digital collections of resources as well worth checking out and sharing with your patrons.
Month: April 2010
New green blog on energy & environment
The New York Times has a blog called Green: a blog about energy and the environment. In honor of Earth Day’s 40th anniversary, the NYT is taking it up a notch from their original Green Inc blog to now blog about “not just the business end of environmental concerns but also politics and policy, environmental science and consumer choices.” Be sure to check out the latest post on the Existential Crisis of the Plastic Bag – including the 18 min video (by Ramin Bahrani) on the impact consumerism has “in a world that treats it like trash.” Be sure to read the side bar listing the amazing lists of expert writers & contributes to this blog!
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New Blog Page!
In honor of earth day and wanting to promote, connect and share resources and ideas, I created a new page on the is blog “other green library pages” (not the most creative name but gets to the point!) where I am listing those libraries I am aware of who have a blog, wiki, or website promoting their library’s local green projects, events, resources and ideas. Check it out and please email me or comment if there are ones I am missing. Kudos to those libraries who are out there promoting & engaging with their local communities about being green!
… and special thanks to William Byrne, Literacy Coordinator, Burbank Public Library for the suggestion and their own green pages!
Earth Day!
Are you doing anything for the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day tomorrow @ your library? Many libraries are hosting green themed programs, having outside celebrations, recycled trash fashion shows, showing a sustainable film, planting trees, educating their community, or asking people to sign a commitment to be green. Browse ideas … EPAs Earth Day page, EarthDay Network, Earth Day Crafts, WhiteHouse Earth Day page, Nature Conservency’s Earth Day page … just to mention of few sites. Celebrate yourself, by simply taking time to stop and reflect on the world around you and be aware of the impact of your daily routines on the world in which we are all completely connected.
Soles4Souls
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 Library Article in Online Magazine
In Online magazine‘s (by Information Today) March/April 2010 (vo 34, no 2) publication, there is an article titled “Libraries Taking the LEED: Green Libraries Leading in Energy and Environmental Design” written by Frederick Stoss – a leader in the green libraries area. The article discusses a little of the history of libraries being environmentally responsible, explains LEED certification, gives some examples of sustainable library resources/databases (including EBSCO’s GreenFILE and Gale’s GREENR), contains a nice green libraries glossary, and offers some programming ideas and professional resources. There are several great blogs, wikis, and websites listed (though my blog wasnt one of them) most of which I have blogged about in the past – such as the Alliance Library System’s Going Green Blog, Monika Antonelli’s GreenLibraries directory, and Maria Jankowska’s Electronic Green Journal just to name a few. This article is worth a read so check it out and pass it on!
Green Libraries Resource
This webpage project has been worked on by various grad students/classes in library management classes at UNC. Contains a directory of green libraries (Side note: must check out the directory Green Libraries by Monika Antonelli) but a fun aspect is that this one has a map (i love maps!) as well as an organized listing of some green libraries. The other cool feature is it aggregates several blogs (this one included!) into one page, for a quick scan of the top green library ideas, news item, or happenings.
Green Tour of Second Life Communities
CAL’s Sustainable Living Library, is offering on its blog, tours of “communities and or groups that emphasize an ecological concern for the environment.” The first one is “Albaycin Nature Preserve” – read about it on the blog or visit in SL!
Free Virtual Conference on Sustainabiliy Wednesday!
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!
USGBC Knowledge Exchange
The US Green Building Council has a useful USGBC Knowledge Exchange definitely worth checking out, passing on, and adding to your library’s online library of resources! The Resource Catalog is a collection of cataloged free digital resources that relate to green building, energy efficiency, urban design, etc. If you want a link added, you can email them (KnowX@usgbc.org) the resource link. There is also a Podcast – USGBC Knowledge Exchange offering audio podcasts by experts in the field on latest in innovation and best practices in sustainable design, construction, operations, planning and LEED – through iTunes store. There is also a link to the Knowledge Center containing USGBC’s in-house library with a collection of more than 500 items. Soon they will be adding a Speaker’s Registry. Check it out!
and thanks to Anne Less of the USGBC for her work on this resource and bringing it to my attention!
Going Green @your library 
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