by Christina Stoll, MLS

Seems like everywhere you go these days you’re given a canvas bag, hear about an earth-friendly option or educated on how to reduce your carbon foot print.  Libraries and their staff are also finding ways to go green and be more environmentally conscious. This article shares the green practices of several public, school, and special MLS libraries, in hopes that others will follow.   

From library-wide initiatives to small individual efforts, each of these libraries are doing their part to go green.

Susan Kubinski Dienes, Programming and Community Relations Coordinator for the Tinley Park Public Library (http://www.tplibrary.org) reports that her library’s green efforts began after the completion of their new building five years ago.

A library-wide effort, the library’s go green initiative was staff-driven with strong administrative support.  Staff volunteered to recycle paper, cardboard, and old books, while administrators oversee the recycling of materials such as ink cartridges, disposal of hazardous materials, and the adaption of the library’s lighting and HVAC settings to reduce energy usage.  Together the administration and staff take an active role in finding out the best method of disposal, often sharing the findings with colleagues on the MLS mailing list Reflist at reflist@mls.lib.il.us.  Other efforts include:

• Staff identifying good homes for discarded books, even making arrangements for their pickup from the library.
• Using old paper for scrap paper and purchasing recycled paper products.
• Providing a collection box for old eye glasses and one for unused skeins of yarn for the library’s Stitch Club.
• Motion sensors on the public washroom lights that shut off when not in use.
• Using a multitude of electronic resources in an effort to cut down on paper memos.

The reaction among staff has been very positive. These efforts have been fairly easy to implement and satisfying in that the staff know they are doing their part for the good of their community and the environment as a whole.  Questions contact Rich Wolff Library Administrator at r_wolff@tplibrary.org.

The Maywood Public Library District (http://www.maywoodlibrary.org) started on-going green efforts as a major library initiative last year.  They created a brochure and display held in their Reference Department, promoting resources within the library on various environmental topics.  Books, CDs, and DVD’s were included on topics from Recycling to Global Warming.  Questions contact Victor A. Dixon at vdixon@maywoodlibrary.org.

The elementary school library within LaGrange Highland School District 106 (http://xbox.district106.net/html/modules.php?name=LRC) emails their overdue notices to patrons instead of sending out paper copies reports librarian Stephaine Edell, sedell@district106.net.

The North Riverside Public Library (http://www.northriversidelibrary.org) has been recycling since 2001.  Their green efforts include recycling newspapers, magazines, and printer toner cartridges; offering the option of a reusable tote bag instead of the old practice of giving patrons plastic bags to carry home books, and separating recyclable "trash" and have recycling wastebaskets for patrons.  The staff and community have been cooperative and supportive of these efforts which don’t cost much money, time or effort. Questions contact Robert J. Lifka, Library Director at lifkar@northriversidelibrary.org.

The Matteson Public Library (http://www.mattesonpubliclibrary.org) has had a recycling program for years geared towards the staff and recently placed recycling bins out in the public space. This summer the library’s Adult Reading Program's theme is Go Green, Read Green, and Get Goodies. Participants read a "green" related book to receive a "green" related prize. In addition they will show educational PowerPoint slides on their TV's display screen, and offer other adult programming throughout the summer that has a “go green” focus.

Library Director Tracy Ducksworth at the Grande Prairie Library District (http://www.grandeprairie.org) highlight’s her library’s green roof. “We opted for a newer greener solution when we replaced our 25 year old roof last fall,” reports Tracy.   For additional information contact the library at gpsreference@yahoo.com.

Kathy Spedale, school librarian at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School, District 123 (http://www.d123.org) shares her library’s green efforts. “We try to use flash drives whenever possible to house presentations rather than printing the project.  We are also moving from poster type presentations to electronic presentations, and last year I received a grant for two classroom sets of flash drives plus thirty more to check out,” stated Kathy.  Questions contact Kathy at kspedale@d123.org. 

Last year the board and staff at the Crete Public Library District (http://www.cretelibrary.org) participated in a long-range planning session which resulted in a goal of “position the facility and the community for a Green Society”.  The library has spent the past year working on various initiatives to help staff and patrons live a greener life.

Working with the nearby Crete Lions Club Recycling Center, the library collects paper, glass, aluminum products, cell phones, plastics and batteries to be recycled.  They also bring leftover books from their Friend’s book sales to the Will County Land Use Department’s annual book recycling event.

To promote its new green efforts the library has a Green Tips Tree in their lobby where patrons can contribute ideas for reducing, recycling, and reusing.  Tips are rewarded with a MLS “Libraries- the Original Recyclers” tote bag. 

Several programs were offered around the green theme including “Ricky Recycle” and “Turn Off the TV” for kids and “Eco-friendly Landscaping”.  The library also held a Community Shredding event, allowing the community to bring in personal papers to be destroyed and recycled. 

In the library’s Adult Services department they have a permanent Green Scene bulletin board to keep patrons informed of green services, events, and programming.  They also created “Kill-a-Watt” kits which include a gadget to measure electricity use and a book on saving energy in your home that patrons can check out for two weeks.  Many of these green efforts are managed a part-time library employee who has been given the title of “Green Goddess”. 

With a year of its green efforts underway, Jane R. Schulten, Administrative Librarian comments about the future of the Crete Public Library District’s green initiative, “Down the road we will be exploring a building energy audit, containing water run-off in our parking lot, and re-landscaping to cut down on lawn mowing.”  Questions contact Jane at schulten@sslic.net. 

Anne Huston, Youth Services Manager at the Riverside Public Library (http://www.riversidelibrary.org) shares her library’s green page available at http://www.riversidelibrary.org/Green.htm. The page lists the library’s green efforts, headed by a Green Committee. The page also includes ways patrons can contribute to the library’s green efforts, from using a canvas bag to bringing in their own coffee mug. Questions contact Anne at hustona@riversidelibrary.org.   

Amy L. Affelt, Director of Database Research at Compass Lexecon (http://www.compasslexecon.com) was recently recognized by the Special Librarian Association with an Earth Day Green Initiative Award "for demonstrating that taking the initiative with adoption of green practices can start as small changes, implemented by a single committed individual, and still have an impact on the entire organization as well as the environment."

Amy was instrumental in preparing a green best practices document for her company. She personally followed some of these herself such as printing less documents, powering down the office computers and turning off lights when the space was not in use, and has placed a tag line in her email signature that reads "please consider the environment before printing this email". Read the complete story at http://www.sla.org/content/SLA/pressroom/pressrelease/09pr/pr2908.cfm.

Christine Cigler, Marketing Coordinator for the Indian Prairie Public Library (http://www.indianprairielibrary.org) shared the outcomes her library recently conducting an energy audit which resulted in upgrades to the library’s lighting system and a future savings for lighting costs, but also a reduction in the amount of pollutants they release into the environment and savings in their air conditioning costs.

“The energy audit concluded that we would save $23,000 a year with more efficient lighting,” said Laura Birmingham, assistant director. 

“We see it as our responsibility to the community to be as energy efficient as possible,” said Jamie Bukovac, Library Director, “and so we pursued a grant opportunity with the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.” The Foundation awarded a grant to the library for energy efficient upgrades to the indoor lighting systems in the library, with the library paying for the remainder of the cost.  The energy audit showed that the cost would be recouped in savings in about 6 months. 

In addition, the library prints its newsletter on recycled paper, provides two recycling bins in its parking lot for recycling paper, newspaper, magazines, catalogs, shredded paper and mail.  There are Lions Club recycling containers for cell phones, eyeglasses, keys and inkjet cartridges at the reception desk.

The staff provides recycling containers in its lunch room and paper recycling bins throughout the library.  Many staff printers are loaded with scratch paper for printing and the library provides dishes, silverware and cups to cut down on staff use of disposable products.

The Youth Services Department has recently added a series of books considered “green”, in that the paper is made using at least 10% recycled materials, and the cover boards contain 100% recycled fibers.  The Computer Services Department recycles outdated computer equipment through a recycler that does not take spare parts from the computer and put the rest in landfills, but instead repairs computers and gives them away to underprivileged schools and organizations. 

The library has a whole makes a concerted effort to recycle, contacting other libraries and schools to see if they could use equipment and supplies our library no longer uses.  Recently several hundred DVD cases were donated to a small library.  Miscellaneous pieces of furniture, office equipment and even lighting baffles have been sold in conjunction with the Friends’ annual book sale.  Questions contact Christine at ciglerc@indianprairielibrary.org.

Each of these libraries and their staff should be commended for their work towards creating a better environment.  Questions or comments about this article can be sent to consultants@mls.lib.il.us.

Published July 8, 2009 in vol. 3, iss. 13 [View]