Abstracts
Curtin University Library’s Green Library Project
Wednesday 6 May 2009, 1130 - 1200
Presenters: Constance Wiebrands and Kate Conway
Curtin University Library, WA
Presenters Biography
Constance Wiebrands is currently Acting Manager, Flexible Delivery and Lending Services at Curtin University Library. She is interested in new ways of doing things, including the use of technology to improve library services and the professional development of library professionals.
Kate Conway is the Science and Engineering Faculty Librarian and member of the Green Library group at Curtin University Library.
Abstract
This paper describes Curtin University Library’s Green Library Project. The project originated in a desire expressed by some library staff members to ‘go green’ at work and was adopted as one of the library’s 2007 strategic initiatives. It will examine what the library has been able to achieve so far, and discuss practices it hopes to introduce and embed in the future.
Many areas were identified where significant improvements could be made. These included the air quality in the building, reduction of energy and water consumption, use of recycled and sustainably produced consumables, better recycling and toilet facilities, and staff awareness. Communication with library clients was especially important, particularly where changes would possibly have an impact on the services they were accustomed to.
Some formidable barriers have been encountered in this process, which resulted in substantial limitations on the changes the committee has been able to make to date. These included the costs involved in altering existing infrastructure, a lack of sustainability policy and services at the wider University level, and apathy and resistance to change. Despite these difficulties, there continue to be many benefits to this ongoing project. For instance, the library was well placed to participate in the University’s highly publicised 2008 Earth Day activities, and our Green Library activities were promoted. This had the added effect of promoting the library in general. Certainly any steps we can take towards reducing the library’s carbon footprint are positive ones.
