Going

Green: Libraries and Green Technology

What is Green Technology? Why is it Important?
Going green is the idea of living a life that protects earths resources (Miller, 2010). Green technology is anything that is environmentally benecial to limit the impact of human acKvity on the environment (Oxford DicKonaries Online, n.d.). As the eects of greenhouse gases on global warming become more apparent, reducing our footprint is important in saving the planet (Miller, 2010). Libraries can reduce their impact on the environment by taking simple steps, including building new green buildings, greening exisKng buildings, and using green products (Antonelli, 2008).

Annice Seve7 LIS 2700 - April 3, 2013

Green Buildings
When building a new library, nd a LEED cerKed builder. LEED buildings are designed to minimize environmental impact, including reducing waste, using recycled materials, and much more (LEED U.S. Green Building Council, 2013). Many libraries have built green buildings and found that they have become more integrated into the community, more a7racKve, and enhance learning and producKvity of the users (Brown, 2003). In todays digital age, these elements can and have been shown to increase library usage and support. Even if your library cannot aord to become LEED cerKed, consider using some of the green technologies to help reduce your impact on the environment. The Semiahmoo Library in Canada, a green facility, saves 100 million gallons of water/year and has reduced costs spent on energy by 46 percent (Bridge, 2004). - Examples of LEED Libraries: Bronx Library, New York City (pictured below) Central Library in Sea7le (pictured below) Candler Library at Emory University LEED Silver Santa Monica Public Library, CA LEED Gold

Top Lec: Energy Ecient Light Bulb

h7p://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CompactFluorescentLightBulb.jpgTop Top

Top Right :Minneapolis Central Library Green Roof h7p://www.greenroofs.com/archives/chic_sustainability.htm Bo7om Right: Thin Client (Spurrier, 2007)
h7p://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IBM_thin_client.JPG

Everyday Green Technology

h7p://www.alliancelibrarysystem.com/CEpdf/green3xtemplate.pdf

Why Libraries Should Use Green Technology

Libraries are icons of sustainability, providing access to knowledge for all generaKons (Connell, 2010). If earths resources conKnue to be depleted, libraries will not have anyone to share this knowledge with because the earth will be uninhabitable. Since the 1990s, the Green Library Movement has been encouraging libraries to reduce their impact on the environment. The ALA Taskforce on the Environment and The Green Library Journal are two examples of professional associaKons gebng behind this movement (Antonelli, 2008). In addiKon to reducing the environmental impact, green technology ocen saves money. In todays world of decreasing library budgets, saving money is important (Brown, 2003).

There are many green technologies any library can implement, including updaKng elements in your building as well as using green products and changing operaKon procedures. These technologies use sustainable materials to eliminate energy and waste. Although many are more expensive than regular materials, the resulKng energy and waste savings make these technologies cost ecient. Building Updates: Low ush toilets and waterless urinals Solar panels and landscaping Sustainable paint When implemenKng (Miller, 2010) these technologies, make sure to educate Green Products: patrons with signs so Energy ecient light bulbs they know you are Light sensors and digital Kmers commi7ed to helping Thin clients the environment. EnergyStar computers Recycled paper (Miller, 2010; Connell, 2010) OperaKon Changes: Virtual or biodegradable library cards Email receipts Cloud compuKng Eliminate use of paper products at sta meeKngs (Schaper, 2010; Chowdhury, 2012)

Lec: Central Library in Sea7le LEED Silver (HaEri, 2009)

h7p://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2009-0604-19-Sea7leCentralLibrary.jpg h7p://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bronx_Library_Center_main_entrance.jpg

Right: Bronx Library LEED Silver (Henderson, 2012)

Further Resources
www.greenlibraries.org A website dedicated to documenKng green libraries h7p://new.usgbc.org/leed The website for the LEED cerKcaKon program h7p://www.ala.org/srrt/moe/taskforceenvironment ALA Taskforce on the Environment

Image: The Green Library Journal

h7p://books.google.com/books/about/ Green_Library_journal.html?id=1AxNAAAAYAAJ

References Alliance Library System (n.d.). Green template: bookmark [image]. Retrieved from http://www.alliancelibrarysystem.com/CEpdf/green3xtemplate.pdf Antonelli, M. (2008). The green library movement: An overview and beyond. Electronic Green Journal, 1(27). Bridge, M. (2004, Feb. 7). Green library wins innovation award. The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/242366096accountid=130717 Brown, B. (2003). The new green standard. Library Journal, 6164. Chowdhury, G. (2012). Advances in information science building environmentally sustainable information services: A green IS research agenda. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 63(4), 633647. doi:10.1002/asi Connell, V. (2010). Greening the library: Collection development decisions. EndNotes: The Journal of the New Members Round Table, 1(1), 115. Green Library Journal (1992). Green library journal, volumes 1-2 [image]. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=1AxNAAAAYAAJ&q=green+library +journal&dq=green+library+journal&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Bd9aUd7rHvG-0QH4-4DADA&ved=0CD0Q6AEwAA Green technology (n.d.). Oxford Dictionaries Online. Retrieved from http://oxforddictionaries.com/us/dehinition/american_english/green%2Btechnology?q=green +technology+ Greenroofs (2010). Minneapolis central library [image]. Retrieved from http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=232 Ha'Eri, B. (2009). Seattle central library, Seattle, Washington, USA [image]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2009-0604-19-SeattleCentralLibrar y.jpg Henderson, J. (2012). Bronx library center main entrance [image]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bronx_Library_Center_main_entrance.jpg Miller, K. (2010). Public libraries going green. Chicago: American Library Association. Rector, K. (2005). Compact Uluorescent spiral lamp [image]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CompactFluorescentLightBulb.jpg Schaper, L. L. (2010). Ten steps to sustainable library operations. Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6727897.html Spurrier, C. (2007). IBM thin client [image]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IBM_thin_client.JPG U.S. Green Building Council. (2013). LEED: U.S. green building council. Retrieved from http://new.usgbc.org/leed