sustainability in libraries Archives | American Libraries Magazine

Campus Sustainability through Information Literacy

By Raymond Pun | September 12, 2017

This column is one in a multipart American Libraries series that explores the library profession’s relationship to sustainability. When I first started working at Fresno State as the first-year student success librarian in 2015, a colleague referred my name to a team of science professors in this program. From there, I began attending weekly meetings and contributing … Continue reading Campus Sustainability through Information Literacy →

Degrowth Is Coming

By Edgardo Civallero | August 4, 2017

Generally speaking, human beings have been aware of these boundaries throughout history, if only to protect existing resources. Our lives depended on it—and still do. But societies have come to view themselves as independent of that abstract entity known as “nature” and believe that human beings can handle their environment at their convenience, using and … Continue reading Degrowth Is Coming →

Sustainability in Public Libraries

This column is one in a multipart American Libraries series that explores the library profession’s relationship to sustainability. Sustainability does not mean continuing the public library, its facilities, and its roles as they are now. It may mean retaining key elements of the library while changing many others. Or it may mean retaining the core values … Continue reading Sustainability in Public Libraries →

Triple Bottom Line Sustainability

By Gary Shaffer | June 15, 2017

This column is one in a multipart American Libraries series that explores the library profession’s relationship to sustainability. Author and entrepreneur John Elkington, often credited for introducing the concept of TBL, wrote in Cannibals with Forks: Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business (1999) that organizations must be economically prosperous, promote environmental quality, and be champions of … Continue reading Triple Bottom Line Sustainability →

Strengthening the Voice for Sustainability

By Kellie Sparks | May 31, 2017

This column is one in a multipart American Libraries series that explores the library profession’s relationship to sustainability. Libraries can move toward providing a fact-based voice in fighting climate change in their communities. One way to do this is by more proactively collecting and disseminating information to stakeholders involved in local sustainability efforts. A recent study … Continue reading Strengthening the Voice for Sustainability →

Sustainability on the Other Side of the Stacks

By Amy Brunvand | May 22, 2017

This column is one in a multipart American Libraries series that explores the library profession’s relationship to sustainability. Why not? I hadn’t previously thought of embedding myself in the Sustainability Office, but the idea seemed brilliant. Typically, academic libraries mirror the subject-based structure of academic departments; but one of the unique aspects of campus sustainability is … Continue reading Sustainability on the Other Side of the Stacks →

Sustainability’s Community of Practice

By Beth Filar Williams and Bonnie Smith | May 10, 2017

This column is one in a multipart American Libraries series that explores the library profession’s relationship to sustainability. This consideration of the need and role of humanity in constructing a sustainable future for all—balancing environmental, economic, and social needs while protecting vulnerable populations—is a core and urgent concern of society, and consequently of libraries. The very … Continue reading Sustainability’s Community of Practice →

Libraries and Sustainable Thinking

By Rebekkah Smith Aldrich | April 20, 2017

This is the first column in a multipart American Libraries series that explores the library profession’s relationship to sustainability. In today’s world, libraries cannot afford to be passive or neutral. We find ourselves contending with disruption on all fronts—political, social, economic, technological, and environmental. Fully participating in community life through the pursuit of our professional values … Continue reading Libraries and Sustainable Thinking →

Latest Library Links

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Will Knight writes: “Twitter recently took drastic action as part of an effort to slow the spread of misinformation through its platform, shutting down more than 2 million automated accounts, or bots. But Twitter shuttered only the most egregious offenders. It’s important not to be swayed by fake accounts or waste your time arguing with them. Here are five indicators of a Twitterbot.”

MIT Technology Review, July 18
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ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions will host a new iteration of its five-week eCourse, “Solutions for Challenging Workplace Relationships: Working through Incivility and Conflict with Emotional Intelligence” with Richard Moniz and Jo Henry as the instructors, starting on September 10. The course will address lack of civility, bullying, mobbing, dysfunctional culture, emotional intelligence shortcomings, and challenges associated with conflict management. Registration is through the ALA Store.

eLearning Solutions, July 18
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ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions, in collaboration with the San José State University School of Information, will host a new 12-week eCourse, “Creating and Expanding Innovative Spaces in Your Library,” beginning September 10. Instructor Alicia Hammond will show you how to create innovative spaces in your library that are tailored to your community’s needs, while working with the resources you have available. Registration is through the ALA Store.

eLearning Solutions, July 18
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ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions will host a new iteration of its four-week facilitated eCourse, “Web Design Basics for Librarians” with Diane Kovacs as instructor, starting on September 10. Kovacs will show you how to design attractive, clear, and accessible webpages and give you the foundation for learning more. Registration is through the ALA Store.

eLearning Solutions, July 18
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More than 17,000 registrants amassed in New Orleans for the ALA 2018 Annual Conference, June 21–26. The six steamy but lively days saw conversation about some of the most important issues in the library world, including advocacy, diversity, and technology. Among the many big-name speakers in the Big Easy was former First Lady Michelle Obama, who opened the conference with an inspiring talk about work ethic, raising children, being a woman, and the importance of remembering one another’s humanity.

American Libraries feature, July/Aug.
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ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo writes: “I truly believe that, together, we can make a difference within the profession, the communities we serve, and the American Library Association. Change is continuous. We cannot foster change once and think it is done. We must continue to take action to bring the change we constantly need to make our communities stronger. Hence my presidential initiative, Libraries = Strong Communities.”

American Libraries column, July/Aug.
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Cara Bertram writes: “This spring, the ALA Archives acquired a generous donation of photographs from Art Plotnik, a photographer, journalist, writer, and librarian. Plotnik is a former editor of American Libraries, and his career with ALA spanned more than 20 years. This collection of photos, negatives, and slides captures the work and life of ALA and librarians, illustrates their interactions with patrons, and shows the optimistic view of the library profession in its ‘positive and humanistic goals.’”

ALA Archives Blog, July 18

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