Green
Libraries Initiatives at International Level and
Prospects
in India
By
Dr. Prince
Ajaykumar T. Agashe
Librarian & SAARC Fellow
Matru Sewa Sangh Institute of Social Work Nagpur
Email: princeagashe@gmail.com
Abstract: The “Green
Library” is a newly emerging concept defines the library of the 21st
century, playing an exclusive role in building green due to its mission for
public and pedagogical nature highlighted the Green Libraries Initiatives at
International level and prospects in India.
1. Introduction:
The
emerging concept “Green Libraries” are also known as sustainable libraries which are building all over the world. The main objectives of behind the study of
these projects are to bring the concept into the main stream. Green Libraries’
are really working most extraordinary in the current situation
2. The objective of building the Green Libraries
1. Global surface temperature is rising day by day.
2.
To control the
pollution and green house gases in environment,.
3.
To play a greater
role in becoming the planet green.
4.
To work for the
betterment of mankind.
5.
To establish a new
image of the library in the modern world
3. LEED Certification
United States Green Building Council
(USGBC) is a non-profit, standard organization developed the LEED (Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system in the year 2000, their point
based rating has a total of 69 points possible, and buildings can be
categorized as certified (26 points),
There are some association especially ALA
and SLA both working promptly for environmental
Sustainability.
Table
No. 1 Green Libraries Initiatives at International Level
S. N
|
Name of the Green Libraries
|
Project Started
|
Country
|
LEED Cert.
|
1
|
Ballard Branch Seattle Public Library Seattle WA
|
Top Ten Green
Projects for the 2006
|
America
(Washington)
|
|
2
|
Blair Library Fayetteville
Public Library Fayetteville,
AR.
|
Estd. October
2004 & completed in 2006
|
America
|
LEED Silver NC
|
3
|
Bozeman
Public Library Bozeman MT.
|
America
|
LEED Silver
|
|
4
|
Broward Community
College/South regional Library Pembroke Pines, F
|
Opened
February 1, 2007
|
America
|
LEED
certified
|
5
|
Budlong
Woods Branch Chicago
Public Library Chicago, IL.
|
America
|
Received LEED
|
|
6
|
Central Library Seattle Public Library Seattle,
WA.
|
America
|
LEED Silver
|
|
7
|
Candler
Library Emory
University.
Atlanta, GA.
|
America
|
LEED Silver
|
|
8
|
Eden Prairie Library Eden Prairie,
MN
|
America
|
||
9
|
Jay Johnson Public Library Quinter,
KS.
|
America
|
||
10
|
Lake View Terrace
Library Lake View Terrace,
CA.
|
Started 2004
|
America
|
Platinum LEED
|
11
|
Malletts Creek Branch, Ann Arbor
District Library Ann Arbor,
MI.
|
Stated 2004
|
America
|
|
12
|
Minneapolis
Central Library Minneapolis,
MN
|
America
|
||
13
|
North Adams
Public Library North Adams,
MA.
|
Started
2007
|
America
|
|
14
|
Oaklyn
Branch Library Evansville Vanderburgh Public
Library Evansville,
IN
|
Started 2003
|
America
|
|
15
|
Ossining
Public Library Ossining,
NY.
|
America
|
Pursuing LEED
|
|
16
|
Pittsfield Branch Ann Arbor District
Library Ann Arbor, MI.
|
America
|
||
17
|
Portsmouth Public Library Portsmouth,
NH.
|
Started 2007
|
America
|
|
18
|
Rosemary Garfoot Public Library Cross
Plains, WI.
|
Opened in 2006
|
America
|
LEED Silver
|
19
|
Seattle Central Library
|
Opened
in May 2004
|
Washington
|
|
20
|
National Library, Singapore
|
Opened
in July 2005
|
Singapore
|
The awareness
among the countries in abroad is promptly remarkable about Green Libraries
especially America, Canada,
England, Atalanta , Japan.
Most of the green libraries started this project and they are striving for LEED
Certification.
Table No. 2 Prospects for Green Libraries in India
S.
N
|
Name of the Green Libraries
|
Project Started
|
Country Belong
|
LEED
Certification
|
1
|
Perma Karpo Library,Ladahk in Indian Himalayas.
|
Finish in 2010
|
India
|
-
|
2
|
National Library of India(Situtated Kolkata)
|
India
|
-
|
These
two libraries are the prospects for Green Libraries in India. The awareness in
India about Green Libraries are least.
Table No. 3 Five
Main Categories to Certify LEED
S.N.
|
Name of the Green Libraries
|
Site Location
|
Water Conservation
|
Energy Efficiency
|
Materials
|
Indoor Air Quality
|
1
|
Perma Karpo Library,Ladahk in Indian Himalayas.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
2
|
Ballard Branch Seattle Public Library Seattle WA
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
3
|
Blair Library Fayetteville
Public Library Fayetteville,
AR.
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
4
|
Bozeman
Public Library Bozeman MT.
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
5
|
Broward Community
College/South regional Library Pembroke Pines, F
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
6
|
Budlong
Woods Branch Chicago
Public Library Chicago, IL.
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
7
|
Central Library Seattle Public Library Seattle,
WA.
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
8
|
Candler
Library Emory
University.
Atlanta, GA.
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
9
|
Eden Prairie Library Eden Prairie,
MN
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
10
|
Jay Johnson Public Library Quinter,
KS.
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
11
|
Lake View Terrace
Library Lake View Terrace,
CA.
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
12
|
Malletts Creek Branch, Ann Arbor
District Library Ann Arbor,
MI.
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
13
|
Minneapolis
Central Library Minneapolis,
MN
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
14
|
North Adams
Public Library North Adams,
MA.
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
15
|
Oaklyn
Branch Library Evansville Vanderburgh Public
Library Evansville,
IN
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
16
|
Ossining
Public Library Ossining,
NY.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
17
|
Pittsfield Branch Ann Arbor District
Library Ann Arbor, MI.
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
18
|
Portsmouth Public Library Portsmouth,
NH.
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
19
|
Rosemary Garfoot Public Library Cross
Plains, WI.
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
20
|
Santa
Monica Public Library Santa Monica, CA.
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
21
|
Utah
Valley State
College Library Orem, UT
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
22
|
West
Valley Branch Library San José Public Library
System. San José, CA
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
23
|
The
Oldham County
Public Main Library LaGrange, Ky.
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
24
|
Ritter Public Library Vermilion, Ohio
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
25
|
Canmore Public Library Canmore, Alberta
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
26
|
Crowfoot Branch Calgary
Public Library Calgary,
Alberta
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
27
|
City
of North Vancouver
Public Library
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
28
|
Collingwood Public Library (Ontario)
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
29
|
Coquitlam Public Library
Poirior Branch (British Columbia)
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
30
|
Edmonton Public Library
Lois Hole Branch(Alberta)
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
31
|
Langara College Library (British Columbia)
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
32
|
Regent College Library (British Columbia)
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
33
|
Selkirk-St. Andrews-St.
Clements regional library (Manitoba)
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
34
|
Semiahmoo Library and RCMP
Facility
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
35
|
University of Toronto Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre
(HMALC) (Ontario) -
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
36
|
Waterloo Public
Library (Ontario)
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
37
|
Emory University
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
Total
|
24
|
16
|
21
|
20
|
11
|
The above table describes that the five
qualities- site location, water conservation, energy efficiency, materials,
indoor air quality are important to certify LEED. It has been observed that
many libraries have site location and environmentally sustainability.
Table No. 4 Green
Roofs
S.N.
|
Name of the Green Libraries
|
Green Roof
|
Mud Roof
|
White Roof
|
1
|
Perma Karpo Library,Ladahk in Indian Himalayas.
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
2
|
Ballard Branch Seattle Public Library Seattle WA
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
3
|
Blair Library Fayetteville
Public Library Fayetteville,
AR.
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
4
|
Budlong
Woods Branch Chicago
Public Library Chicago, IL.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
5
|
Malletts Creek Branch, Ann Arbor
District Library Ann Arbor,
MI.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
6
|
Minneapolis
Central Library Minneapolis,
MN
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
7
|
North Adams
Public Library North Adams,
MA.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
8
|
Oaklyn
Branch Library Evansville Vanderburgh Public
Library Evansville,
IN
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
9
|
Ritter Public Library Vermilion, Ohio
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
10
|
Crowfoot Branch Calgary
Public Library Calgary,
Alberta
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
11
|
Collingwood Public Library (Ontario)
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
12
|
Vancouver Public Library
Green Roof Monitoring Project (British
Columbia)
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
13
|
The Massachusetts Institute
of Technology's Hayden Library
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
Total
|
12
|
1
|
3
|
The
above table highlights that number of Green Libraries use Green Roof and only
Perma Karpo Library, Ladahk in Indian himalayas has mud roof.
Table No. 5 LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
S.N.
|
Name of the Green Libraries
|
Certified 26
|
Silver
33
|
Gold
39
|
Platinum 52+
|
1
|
Blair Library Fayetteville
Public Library Fayetteville,
AR.
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
-
|
2
|
Bozeman
Public Library Bozeman MT.
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
3
|
Broward Community
College/South regional Library Pembroke Pines, F
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
4
|
Budlong
Woods Branch Chicago
Public Library Chicago, IL.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
5
|
Central
Library Seattle
Public Library Seattle, WA.
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
6
|
Candler
Library Emory
University.
Atlanta, GA.
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
7
|
Lake View Terrace
Library Lake View Terrace,
CA.
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
8
|
North Adams
Public Library North Adams,
MA.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
9
|
Rosemary Garfoot Public Library Cross
Plains, WI.
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
10
|
Santa
Monica Public Library Santa Monica, CA.
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
11
|
The
Oldham County
Public Main Library LaGrange, Ky.
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
12
|
Ritter Public Library Vermilion, Ohio
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
13
|
City
of North Vancouver
Public Library
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
14
|
Collingwood Public Library (Ontario)
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
15
|
Langara College Library (British Columbia)
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
16
|
Edmonton Public Library
Lois Hole Branch(Alberta)
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
17
|
Regent College Library (British Columbia)
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
18
|
Semiahmoo Library and RCMP
Facility
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
19
|
West Valley Brancy Library San Jose Public Library System. San Jose, CA
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
20
|
University of Toronto Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre
(HMALC) (Ontario) -
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
21
|
Waterloo Public
Library (Ontario)
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
Total
|
4
|
11
|
5
|
1
|
This table shows
that most of Green libraries received and striving Silver LEED for it. In
addition, only Lake View Terrace Library Lake View Terrace, CA received Platinum.
Table No. 6 Country-wise
Analysis of Green Libraries
S. N
|
Name of the Green Libraries
|
America
|
Canada
|
Atalanta
|
India
|
1
|
Perma Karpo Library,Ladahk in Indian Himalayas.
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
2
|
Ballard Branch Seattle Public Library Seattle WA
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
3
|
Blair Library Fayetteville
Public Library Fayetteville,
AR.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
4
|
Bozeman Public Library Bozeman MT.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
5
|
Broward Community College/South
regional Library Pembroke Pines, F
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
6
|
Budlong
Woods Branch Chicago
Public Library Chicago, IL.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
7
|
Central Library Seattle Public Library Seattle,
WA.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
8
|
Candler Library
Emory University.
Atlanta, GA.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
9
|
Eden
Prairie Library Eden
Prairie, MN
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
10
|
Jay Johnson Public Library Quinter,
KS.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
11
|
Lake
View Terrace
Library Lake View Terrace, CA.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
12
|
Malletts Creek Branch, Ann Arbor
District Library Ann Arbor,
MI.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
13
|
Minneapolis Central Library Minneapolis, MN
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
14
|
North Adams
Public Library North Adams,
MA.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
15
|
Oaklyn
Branch Library Evansville Vanderburgh Public
Library Evansville,
IN
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
16
|
Ossining
Public Library Ossining,
NY.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
17
|
Pittsfield Branch Ann Arbor District
Library Ann Arbor, MI.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
18
|
Portsmouth
Public Library Portsmouth,
NH.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
19
|
Rosemary
Garfoot Public Library Cross
Plains, WI.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
20
|
Santa
Monica Public Library Santa Monica, CA.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
21
|
Utah Valley
State College Library Orem, UT
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
22
|
West Valley
Branch Library San José
Public Library System. San
José, CA
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
23
|
The
Oldham County
Public Main Library LaGrange, Ky.
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
24
|
Ritter Public Library Vermilion, Ohio
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
25
|
Canmore Public Library Canmore, Alberta
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
26
|
Crowfoot Branch Calgary
Public Library Calgary,
Alberta
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
27
|
City
of North Vancouver
Public Library
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
28
|
Collingwood Public Library (Ontario)
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
29
|
Coquitlam Public Library
Poirior Branch (British Columbia)
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
30
|
Edmonton Public Library Lois
Hole Branch(Alberta)
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
31
|
Langara College
Library (British Columbia)
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
32
|
Regent College Library (British Columbia)
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
33
|
Selkirk-St. Andrews-St.
Clements regional library (Manitoba)
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
34
|
Semiahmoo Library and RCMP
Facility
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
35
|
University of Toronto Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre
(HMALC) (Ontario) -
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
36
|
Vancouver Public Library
Green Roof Monitoring Project (British
Columbia)
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
37
|
Waterloo Public Library (Ontario)
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
38
|
Whistle Public Library
(British Columbia)
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
39
|
Emory University
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
Total
|
23
|
14
|
1
|
1
|
It has been observed from the above table that
maximum American libraries are Green Libraries. In addition, the awareness
among American and Canadian etc. libraries are increasing more and more.
The present
table displays that the most of the libraries have the Rainy Water Run off management system.
8.
The Role of Green Librarian
1.
The Green Librarian’s role is most extraordinary
here called Eco-librarian who handle the budgets to support the organizations.
2.
The resources provided on this site help the
people locate library materials and many documents and organizations that are
oriented toward a hopeful future.
3.There
are the two most important things- Economy and Ecology for making healthy and
prosperous sustainable libraries.
Conclusion
Libraries
are an investment in the future of our society. Libraries have a responsibility
to not contribute to the destruction of the environment, to educate the people
regarding our current situation, and empower them to make a difference.
Libraries are discovering that their green building gives them a great
opportunity to educate the citizenry. As libraries continue to take a more progressive
stance on improving the human condition, sustainability will have to be a
central theme. The developed countries like America precede such Green library
projects and in other countries also take part in it. There are very lack of
awareness in India and a
very few projects are initiated in India. The goal is to take the
waste to a country that has less strict environmental laws or environmental
laws are not strict. Every June 5 since 1972 is the UN’s World Environmental
Day. The goal of this day is to stimulate worldwide
awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. Media
like TV, Radio etc. plays a greater role in the environmental movement. They
have the power to make people aware about the environmental issues.
Bibliography
:
·
Antonelli, M. “The green library
movement: an overview and beyond” Electronic Green Journal, Vol. 1 (27), 2008. (Last Accessed on
15/01/2013)
- birmingham.gov.uk/Generate Content (Accessed on 15/01/2013)
- dallaslibrary.org/forest.htm (Last Accessed on 15/01/2013)
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_library (Last accessed on 2/2/2013)
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