About the site...
This was our first book. What we weren’t very cognizant of amidst writing and publishing is how much we wanted to add after the final proofs. This site is a place for the book to live on, and to provide a forum for those interested in greening their libraries and communities. We see this happening through activism at the library and sharing with and learning from the community.
We hope that each of you will join in the conversation to evolve the book and ensure endurance and innovation of the ideas.
And if you need our help to get a greening initiative going, please don’t hesitate to contact Sam. We’re available to consult on projects ranging from baby steps to massive endeavors and applaud each of you for going down the path.
About the book...
❝ This practical guide provides essential information for anyone planning or responsible for library buildings and operations and maintenance. It combines “what to do” information about going green with “how to do it” guidance. Starting from basic definitions and ways to determine current status, it moves through how to actually develop and implement an action plan. It imparts the knowledge and confidence needed to lead such an effort.
Library managers, facilities managers, library boards of trustees, and students in library science programs will all benefit from this broad view of “green,” ranging from use of cleaning products to design and construction of new libraries. This unique book not only educates about sustainability but also helps the reader evaluate the current status of a library. Armed with that information, anyone can then use the processes outlined to develop and implement plans and projects to move their library further up the green scale.
Library buildings are special places. Very often, a library in a community or on a campus has more visitors than any other building. How users feel about the entire community is influenced by their experiences and perceptions of the library as a building, a space, and a set of services.
Thus, a library has the opportunity, and arguably the responsibility, to educate its users about sustainability and to serve as a model of best practices in sustainable design and operations. This book will help any reader to make a library more green and to do so in a way that informs, educates, and leads not only those who work in and use libraries but entire communities. ❞
Jane Light, Director, San José Public Library