Creating Sustainable Libraries and Programs Stephen C. Maack Arlene Hopkins REAP Change Consultants Arlene Hopkins and Associates November 30, 2016 ALA LLAMA Webinar
ALA Resolution on Sustainable Libraries (13 July 2015) • The full text of this resolution can be found on the ALA website. • Libraries play an important and unique role in wider community communications about resiliency, climate change and a sustainable future • Libraries that demonstrate good stewardship of the resources entrusted to them can build community support that leads to sustainable funding • The resolution encourages the American Library Association, its membership, library schools and state associations to be proactive in their application of sustainable thinking in the areas of their facilities, operations, policy, technology, programming, partnerships and library school curricula
ALA Resolution: Whereas . . . • Our communities are faced with economic, environmental and societal changes that are of great concern to our quality of life; • Libraries are uniquely positioned and essential to build the capacity of the communities they serve to become sustainable, resilient and regenerative; • Library leaders, and those who inspire future library leaders, have a mandate to ensure future access to economical library services; • Libraries that demonstrate good stewardship of the resources entrusted to them can build community support that leads to sustainable funding; • The people who work in our libraries and those who access services in our facilities deserve a healthy environment in which to do so;
ALA Resolution: Whereas . . . (cont) • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has determined that: “Human influence on the climate system is clear… Recent climate changes have had widespread impacts on human and natural systems”1 ; • “Libraries are widely recognized as key players in economic development, in building strong and vibrant communities, and in sustaining a strong democracy" and launched the ALA Center for Civic Life (CCL) in 2010 in conjunction with the Kettering Foundation to promote community engagement and foster public deliberation through libraries; and • Libraries that demonstrate leadership in making sustainable decisions that positively address climate change, respect and use natural resources, and create healthy indoor and outdoor environments will stabilize and reduce their long-term energy costs, help build more sustainable communities, and thereby increase community support for the library
ALA Resolution: Resolved • Recognizes the important and unique role libraries play in wider community conversations about resiliency, climate change, and a sustainable future and begins a new era of thinking sustainably in order to consider the economic, environmental and socially equitable viability of choices made on behalf of the association; • Enthusiastically encourages activities by itself, its membership, library schools and state associations to be proactive in their application of sustainable thinking in the areas of their facilities, operations, policy, technology, programming, partnerships and library school curricula; and • Directs the ALA Executive Director to pursue sustainable choices when planning conferences and meetings and to actively promote best practices of sustainability through ALA publications, research and educational opportunities to reach our shared goal of vital, visible and viable libraries for the future.
What Does This Mean for YOUR LIBRARY? • Building green library facilities • Renovating library facilities to be green • Operating library facilities economically and sustainably • Acquiring and using technology sustainably • Evaluating how “green” your library is
Facilities Planning & Operations Practical Ideas for ecologically & economically sustainable facilities • Conceptual Model of Library Facility: A place- based “system” with “inputs, processes and outputs.” • Facility Standards for Sustainability, Resilience and Regeneration: LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design), Ecological Footprint, CHPS (Collaborative for High Performance Schools), Architecture 2030, Living Building Challenge, and more. • Major Goals: • Conserve resources – Inputs (energy, water, material resources), Processing (time, labor, money), Outputs (solid waste, food waste, etc.) • Regenerate functioning ecosystem services – Living soils with full- spectrum microbes and fungi, local native plants, regenerated functioning ecosystems, habitat for invertebrates, pollinators and other creatures. • Relocalize production and enhance self-sufficiency. (eg: Generate 100% renewable energy on site.) • Support good health and high quality of life.
Elinor Ostrom: COMMON POOL RESOURCES
A Plethora of Standards Practical Ideas for ecologically & economically sustainable facilities • ASHRAE 189.1-2014: Standard for Design of High-Performance Green Buildings. (ANSI Approved, USGBC & IES Co-sponsored) • LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design): Rating system for design, construction, operation of buildings and neighborhoods. • Ecological Footprint: Measures supply (biocapacity) and demand (human use) on nature’s systems. • CHPS (Collaborative for High Performance Schools): Rating system for design, construction, operation of buildings and campuses. • Architecture 2030: GHG and carbon neutral standards combined with high performance design. • Living Building Challenge: Rigorous and broad standards toward sustainable buildings, infrastructure, landscapes, neighborhoods and communities. • And more.
Facilities Operations Practical Ideas for ecologically & economically sustainable facilities • Conceptual Model of Library Facility: A place- based “system” with “inputs, processes and outputs.” • Facility Standards for Sustainability: LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design), Ecological Footprint, CHPS (Collaborative for High Performance Schools), Architecture 2030, Living Building Challenge, and more.
Elinor Ostrom: COMMON POOL RESOURCES
Climate Change Responses: Library Roles, Resources, and Tools Arlene Hopkins Stephen C. Maack Arlene Hopkins and Associates REAP Change Consultants November 30, 2016 ALA LLAMA Webinar
ALA Resolution: 1 Recognizes the important and unique role libraries play in wider community conversations about resiliency, climate change, and a sustainable future and begins a new era of thinking sustainably in order to consider the economic, environmental and socially equitable viability of choices made on behalf of the association
Nested Levels of Climate Change Action • Global – Worldwide & Regional • Political – National & State • Companies & Non-profits • Community – Working at the local level where libraries can have the most direct impact • Individual/Family
Think Globally & Act Locally
Typical Library Roles • Information Services: Collection and bibliography development; Database and Internet searches. • Community Services: Book clubs, Discussion group hosting; Speaker series. • Cultural Services; Enable and model best practices in information retrieval, use and development.
Examples of Community-Oriented Climate Change Topic Areas 1) Global Warming 2) Rising Sea Levels 3) Unstable, Less Predictable Weather Patterns 4) The Climate Change Debate 5) Communicating about Climate Change
Topic 1: Global Warming – Rising Temperatures
Ecosystem Changes, Biodiversity Loss
Crops aren’t planted or die
Human Health and Economic Well-Being New Orleans Senior Center Smog (Harbin China 2013)
Topic 2: Rising Sea Levels Crystal Cruise Ship Completes Historic Northwest Passage Arctic Journey 9/16/2016 http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenew/
Local Sea Level Rise Issues • Flooded Cities • Loss of Property • Destroyed road and railroad transportation • Ruined sewage treatment plans (16 or 17 in San Francisco Bay area)
Topic 3: Unstable Weather From One Extreme to Another July 2016 Was Earth's Warmest Month on Record in 136 years (http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/news/20160816/, https://weather.com/news/climate/news/july-2016-warmest-global- temperature-record )
Supply Chain Disruption
Topic 4: The Climate Change Debate
Topic 5: Communicating about Climate Change • ecoAmerica free .pdf downloadable research reports on communicating about climate change (http://ecoamerica.org/research/) • Romm, J. J. (2016). Climate change: What everyone needs to know . • Malone, E. L. (2009). Debating climate change: Pathways through argument to agreement . London: Earthscan.
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