Never Waste a Good Crisis or How the Economic Downturn is Greening us all!

Sarah B. Dorsey SEMLA/TMLA 2009

New Orleans

Green Information overload?

• Depressing, frightening news• Frustrations because of financial setbacks• Too many messages in my inbox/RSS, etc.• Sometimes there are gifts…

J’aime beaucoup les Francais!

• 700 naked people in France...!? (PG version):http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/06/700-naked-people-in-france-for-climate-change-action/

• treehugger report on same event (R version):http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/10/nude-posing-organic-wine.php?dcitc=th_rss

$EMLA?/TMLA?

• A questionnaire for y’all with hand held devices (OK, I’ll let people talk too…but the widget thing is fun)…

• http://polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/MjAzMjcyMzkxMQ

• Discussion of where we are, what we’ve lost, how the $$ issues affect our work and…do *you* have a budget yet?

OK, reality bites, how do we react?

• Inspiration from Obama:

• To truly transform our economy, protect our security and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy…

Quick story of Sustainability at UNCG

• This started in the fall of 2006 (after my Louise sabbatical at LC)

• Campus Sustainability group• http://sustain.uncg.edu/• Sustainabilty Film and Discussion series

Sustainability Film and Discussion Series

• Started with colleague from library – partnering with Weatherspoon Art Museum on campus

• Connection with community – discussion after each film to address issues locally – town/gown dialogue

• Sponsorship – community business sponsors grew from 2 the first year to 7 the second year (fewer this year and still looking…)

• Exciting time in Greensboro – starting to finally live up to the name…

Green Library Group

• Not enough trickle down for me, so…

• GLG Founded last November – first meeting right after election

• Administrative support – not only for environmental reasons (hint: $$)

What we are doing

• Charge of group: toggle

• Liaisons for each department in the library• List of green things:

– Duplexing– Expanded scanning for patrons– Expanded recycling and recycling education– IT initiatives– Campus events

• Plans for the future – adopt a stream, McGovern event

What are you (or your library) doing now that is green?

• Yup, another one of those widget things…• Link:

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/MjEwNDMyNTQxNg

• Discussion, sharing, learning and…

Wrap-up

• Action plan – ideas to take home with you• Beth’s WIKI:

http://greeningyourlibrary.pbworks.com • Beth’s blog:

http://greeningyourlibrary.wordpress.com/• Others:• http://thegreenlibraryblog.blogspot.com/• Facebook, twitter, etc.