SLA

May 4, 2009

SLA 2009 Conference: Green Events

Going to SLA in June 14-17  in DC?  Here are some green events you might want to check out:

It Can Be Easy to Be Green: An Overview of Green Engineering and Its Resources
(Ticketed Event #225)
Date: Saturday June 13, 8-12pm
Price: US$ 199 member / US$ 199 student member/ US$ 299 non-member
Speaking: Katherine Gabrysch, The Cadmus Group, Inc.
Presented by: Engineering Division

Building Your Green Library
Date: Monday June 15, 1:30-3pm
Speaking: Anca Novacovici, American Institute of Architects Sustainability Discussion Group,American Institute of Architects; Rebecca Vargha, University of North Carolina
Presented by: Environment & Resource Management Division; Architecture, Building Engineering, Construction & Design Caucus; Engineering Division

Also,  register and attend SLA 2009 and you will have a chance to win a 2009 Smartcar!

April 3, 2009

Environment & Resource Management Division of SLA

Did you know about the Environment & Resource Management Division (ERMD) of SLA? They offer a discussion list, a Green Award, a newsletter, and support green initiatives and presentations at conferences.   If you are lucky enough to be able to attend the SLA 2009 Annual Conference, it will be June 14-17, 2009, in Washington, DC and be sure to check out these ERMD sessions: Building your Green Library – From Information to Legislation: Silent Spring and its impact on anti-pollution law and policy – REACH and the Future of Toxics Legislation – Socially Responsible Decision-Making: Ethics at work – Toxicology Round Table: Environmental resources of the National Library of Medicine using innovative web technology.  ERMD will also be co-sponsoring sessions on Food Safety and on Climate Change. (Detailed Schedule)

Oh and ERMD is on Facebook too.

June 18, 2008

Go Green at ALA Conference…. part II

The TFOE discussion list just sent out a great message about being green at the ALA conference, with some more ideas than those I posted recently (go green at ALA the Conference)  Here is a clip from the email:


Be aware of local recycling initiatives and use them

When dining, think of choosing restaurants that use local produce and food supplies, and think organic foods

On the exhibit floor thank those publishers that are greening their publishing practices and engaging in efforts to use carbon-neutral strategies, chlorine-free and recycled paper, soy-based inks, and thinking of greener means to promote their publications, products, and services.

Do not pick up excessive promotional materials or handouts to be tossed into trash baskets in your hotel room, elsewhere in the exhibit hall or conference hotels. Carrying all that material back home takes energy. If every person attending ALA were to take home an additional ten (10) pounds of paper, making some “average” assumptions about how ALA members travel to meetings, I calculate that 350 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) will be used to transport handouts and take-aways, if 23,000 people show up at ALA.

In you hotels there is much you can do, and nearly every hotel has guidelines for saving energy and being more environmentally sensitive: not having towels and linens laundered every day, turning air conditioning off, when room is not in use, not letting hot water run.

Use mass transit systems and share cab rides as much as possible.

SLA wrote an incredible article in its April 2008 issue about green behaviors at conferences. It has an impressive list of resources.

Not a member of TFOE? Think about joining!

April 24, 2008

SLA to Honor “Knowledge to Go Green” Champions

(press release) Special Libraries Association (SLA) President Stephen Abram is accepting nominations through November 15, 2008 for a special Presidential Citation honoring “Knowledge to Go Green” Champions.  Recipients will be announced at the SLA Leadership Summit in January 2009, which is the start of SLA’s Go Green Initiative Year (read more about it in my previous post).  SLA Members or Units are eligible for the citation if they “have implemented green policies, or made significant changes to the manner in which business is conducted, with an eye toward reducing the impact on the environment.”  The nomination form is available on the SLA Awards Page for Presidential Citations.

January 25, 2008

SLA Announces Green Initiative

CHEERS TO  SLA!!   From the press release: “The Special Libraries Association (SLA), a nonprofit global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners, today announced it will take the first steps and begin efforts to become an environmentally sensitive organization at the membership, board, volunteer leadership, and staff level.”  

SLA has already begun greening their offices through elminating excessive paper use,  replacing disposable plates, cups, and utensils with real washable ware, buying recycled products only,  recycling everything they can, creating incentives for staff to use public transportation,  and purchasing carbon credits to offset all staff travel for events throughout the year.  At their next event, the SLA Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO in Seattle in June 2008, they will lauch significant environmental initiatives. They hope to see a ripple effect througout the SLA community as they launch this green initiative.