How to become / How to identify a Green Library? Standards for Certification

Abstract

Over the last decades there are libraries all over the world following the “green way”. In the US some are certified by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), constructed and designed to fulfill these high standards for certification as a “green” building through the rating system. But there are additional criteria for libraries to fulfill the ideas and ideals of environmental sustainability. Besides being an environmental friendly building the library can act as educator and leader through driving an eco-friendly office management, eco-friendly user services, exemplary eco- friendly activities and offering information and courses in and eco-friendly lifestyle. Drawing upon a recently defended master thesis in Germany, the purpose of the paper is to propose the development of a sector-specific certificate to award libraries as a “Green library”. The certificate is awarded not only for building aspects but specifically for services and management systems. The objective of this paper, presented at the IFLA conference, is to define systematically all aspects of an environmentally sustainable library through a certification system. And additionally, to recommend Environmental Sustainability and Libraries SIG (ENSULIB), as the only official worldwide initiative for promoting (awarding?) green libraries with an “ENSULIB Green Library Certificate”.