Going Green in the Library: It’s Not Just for Contractors Michael Crumpton, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Sarah Dorsey, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Beth Filar-Williams, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Mary Scanlon, Wake Forest University Ameet Doshi, Georgia Perimeter College Many green initiatives are related directly to new construction or major remodels, as these events provide the opportunity for energy efficient solutions. “Going Green” in these circumstances typically falls to an institution’s physical plant or facilities department with an emphasis on the building itself and/or basic recycling. So what about the rest of the sustainable activities that can make a difference in our everyday lives and of course our future? Libraries across the world have started making small contributions to sustainability with awareness programs, community projects, and a change of attitude toward protecting our environment. Building or remodeling buildings alone will not achieve long term goals for a sustainable future. Actions need to be in the hands of the building’s occupants and users. This panel discussion by library experts, who have each been pro-active advocates in their libraries for looking beyond basic activities or relying on a facilities project to get them green, will provide plenty of ideas for conference attendees to take home and put into action. They will each share unique experiences, ideas, programs and results that they each made happen, in order to change personal behaviors, address problem spots and personalize “Going Green”, in a library environment. A bibliography will also be shared with conference participants that address green initiatives designed for the everyday person, but tailored to a library and its constituents. Conference attendees will not have to go back and ask for money to make something happen, but instead will be armed with practical every day, common sense, actionable suggestions for making a “Green” difference in their library.

1. Going Green in the Library:
It’s Not Just for Contractors
Michael Crumpton, UNC Greensboro
Sarah B. Dorsey, UNC Greensboro
Ameet D. Doshi, Georgia Perimeter College
Mary G. Scanlon, Wake Forest University
Beth Filar Williams, UNC Greensboro

2. Topics
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Operations & Maintenance
• Transportation
• Communication
• Politics & Pay

3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitecatsg/3292554232/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/2150616862/
Reduce Paper

4. Switch to Digital
Resources
http://www.flickr.com/photos/beebe_library/3042545758/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/2608962510/

5. Think ILL
Free Online Journals
http://www.flickr.com/photos/herzogbr/2633936090/

6. Is your printer set for
automatic double-sided printing?
1. Yes
2. No 54%
3. Not sure 38%
8%
s
o
re
Ye
N
su
ot
N

7. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbray/2218987863/
Reduce energy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88319047@N00/679581302/

8. Reduce Purchases … & be FREE!

9. Reuse, Recycle
Do well by doing good

10. Reuse
One staff party can produce bags and bags of
garbage containing:
– Paper plates and napkins
– Plastic (styrene) cups and utensils
– Plastic table coverings
– food waste
The recycling potential for these materials is
minimal, at best.

11. Reuse
Alternatives?
– Buy a set of real silverware at Goodwill
– Buy a set of real dishes at the Habitat store
– Buy a fabric table cloth
– Encourage people to bring their own cups and
glasses to meetings and parties

12. Recycling
• Patron waste
• Library material

13. Does Your Library Have a Recycling
Program?
1. Yes 100%
2. No
3. Not Sure
0% 0%
s
o
re
Ye
N
Su
ot
N

14. What Does Your Library Recycle?
1. Paper
2. Cardboard 82%
71% 71%
3. Glass 59%
65%
4. Aluminum/metal 47%
5. Plastic 29%
6. Electronics
7. Other 6%
8. Nothing
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Pa
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15. Recycling Patron Waste
Our Experience
Increase participation, decrease contamination:
• Put containers where patrons are
• Offer recycling and trash containers together

16. Recycling Library Material
• Paper: books, newspapers…
• Packaging material: cardboard, chipboard
• E-waste: computers, batteries

17. Recycling Library Material
What to do with weeded books?
• Used book sale
• aLibris
• Better World Books
• Donate to another non-profits
– public library
– women’s shelter
• Remove hard covers and recycle paper

18. Recycling Library Material
What to do with used packaging?
• Use large envelopes for campus mail
• Ship ILL materials in used boxes
• Reuse packing material – peanuts, bubble
wrap
• Recycle any cardboard or chipboard that can’t
be reused

19. Recycling Library Material
What to do with e-waste?
• Send to a re-builder: RetroBox, FreeGeek
• Donate to local technical college to practice
repairs
• Bring to Goodwill

20. Landfills are Big Business

21. Only new construction can earn LEED
certification.
1. True
2. False 92%
8%
ue
e
ls
Tr
Fa

22. Operations and Maintenance

23. Transportation

24. Tips for Saving Gas
1. Plan ahead and combine as many errands into
one trip as possible.
2. Inflate your tires to the proper setting.
3. Don't speed, and avoid quick acceleration.
4. Avoid excessive idling.
5. Change air and fuel filters periodically.
6. Buy your gas during the coolest part of the day.
7. Tune up your engine.
8. Use the right engine oil.

27. How do you commute to work?
1. Bike
2. Bus 53%
3. Car alone
4. Carpool
5. Telecommute 20%
13%
6. Train 7% 7%
0% 0%
7. Walk
n
k
ne
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e
us
ol
al
ai
ut
ik
po
o
B
W
Tr
B
m
al
ar
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ar
C
co
C
le
Te

33. Has your library screened a film on
sustainability?
1. Yes 43%
2. No 36%
3. Not sure
21%
s
o
re
Ye
N
su
ot
N

34. Has your library organized a
sustainable book group?
1. Yes 43%
2. No
29% 29%
3. Not sure
s
o
re
Ye
N
su
ot
N

35. Green Campus or Community Portal

36. http://www.chipublib.org/cplbooksmovies/poptopics/environment.php

37. http://schaumburglibrarygreenside.wordpress.com/

39. Do you use paperless collaboration
tools?
50%
1. Frequently 43%
2. Occasionally
3. Hmmm, once
maybe
7%
4. Never 0%
e
er
ly
ly
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nt
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ay
ue
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m
eq
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cc
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40. Are You Engaged in Sustainable
Activities in Your Library?
1. Yes – with the 77%
library’s approval
2. Yes, but not with
the library’s support
3. No 15%
8%
o
.
.
.
l..
N
ry
e
ra
th
lib
ith
e
th
w
ot
ith
tn
w
bu
–
s
s,
Ye
Ye

41. The Green Library
• Resources
– Print, electronic, Web 2.0
– Wayfinders, research guides, training
• Facilities
– Campus hub
– Shared reasons to visit
• Staffing
– Common vision

42. Key Elements of Greening Up
• Awareness
• Education
• Action

43. What are the Risks?
• Established patterns
• Existing equipment
What are the Barriers?
• The way we’ve always done it!
• Motives/Incentives

44. Who are your partners?
Don’t be isolated.
• What’s going on in your community?
• What impact does your higher organization’s
recycling efforts have on YOU?
• With what other organizations can you
partner?

45. Changing Behaviors
Not easy!

46. Learning Theory Methods
• Positive reinforcement
• Positive punishment
• Negative reinforcement
• Negative punishment
Use a combination of methods to change
behavior – yours, your co-workers’ and your
institutions’.

47. Behavior-Related Myths Can Block
Long-lasting Change
• Crisis is a powerful impetus for change
• Change is motivated by fear
• The facts will set us free
• Small, gradual changes are always easier to
make and sustain
• We can't change because our brains become
"hardwired" early in life

48. Paying the Price
• Apply for Grants
• Get Donors interested
• Collaborate with other organizations
• Share with community organizations

49. Greening Your Library
http://greeningyourlibrary.pbworks.com/Inspira
tionInnovationCelebration
Facebook group = greenlibrary