[SLI-Newsletter] SLI March 2022 Newsletter

Tue Mar 1 11:26:38 EST 2022

 <https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/media/document/160> Sustainable
Libraries Initiative Newsletter March 2022

 <https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/media/document/160> 

Breaking News

The Sustainable Libraries Certification Program's nationwide rollout is
underway with our first Sustainable Libraries Certification Program enrollee
outside of New York State. We are thrilled to announce that
<https://www.sdcl.org/> San Diego County Library has enrolled in the SLCP
and are on the path to become a Certified Sustainable Library.

Congratulations, Clarkson University Libraries!

The  <https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org> Sustainable Libraries
Initiative is celebrating the first Academic Library to complete our
one-of-a-kind Certification Program.  <https://sites.clarkson.edu/library/>
Clarkson University Libraries has officially completed the rigorous
certification process tailor-made for academic libraries. This step-by-step
benchmarking program includes categories such as Community Engagement,
Social Well Being, and Energy Management. The Academic Certification
Program, while guiding the institution toward policies and practices that
align with
<https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/media/glossary#page=4> triple
bottom line sustainability, has Action Items that encourage collaboration
with other campus sustainability efforts, taking a close look at materials
in the collection for content and format, and reaching out beyond the
university to establish the university library as a resource and leader in
the resilience of the broader community. Similar to the Public and School
Library Certification Programs, this process is designed to be both flexible
and reflective. There is flexibility built into the program so that each
Academic Library can choose to complete the Action Items that best serve
their individual needs. Reflection questions in each category are designed
to give each participant an opportunity to describe how their library
benefits from the completed actions and how these changes ripple out to
educate and inspire students, faculty, and staff. 

Clarkson University Libraries Dean of Libraries,
<https://www.clarkson.edu/people/michelle-young> Michelle Young, and her
team undertook the Sustainable Libraries Certification Program after
participating in working groups to develop the academic library
certification program for the Sustainable Libraries Initiative over the last
few years. Embarking in the certification process gave her a chance to look
inward at the role that the Clarkson University Libraries takes in their own
sustainability efforts and how these actions contribute to the broader
campus sustainability efforts. The participation of the Dean of Libraries in
many University committees over the past several years has helped to
position Clarkson University Libraries as a vital agency in the campus
sustainability mission.  The committee work and willingness to collaborate
on grants has elevated the profile of the library among the other
departments on campus and has helped increase the visibility of the library
among the faculty and students. 

Environmental sustainability is at the core of Clarkson University's
operations. Their institution has consistently earned Advancement of
Sustainability in Higher Education's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment &
Rating System ( <https://stars.aashe.org/> AASHE STARS) gold ratings. This
<https://www.clarkson.edu/sustainability> University-wide initiative
includes the reporting of campus Greenhouse Gas inventories, academic class
content that includes sustainability, research, a Green Lab program,
planning for construction that includes consideration of environmental
sustainability, and a meadow restoration project. Clarkson University
Libraries'
<https://sites.clarkson.edu/library/about-us/libraries-mission-vision-values
/> Mission states: "Consider issues of sustainability in all of our
practices." This declaration sets the tone for all faculty and staff to
align their decisions, large and small, as they fit in with environmental
best practices, consideration of social equity, and fiscal responsibility.

Clarkson University's  <https://www.clarkson.edu/academics/ise> Institute
for a Sustainable Environment is an interdisciplinary campus organization
that brings together expertise from a variety of different academic
departments to support environmental education, campus sustainability
actions, and innovative research collaboration. Clarkson University
Libraries collaborates with the Institute for a Sustainable Environment on
projects such as the
<https://sites.clarkson.edu/library/bike-rental-program/> student bike
rental program. The University Libraries used their cataloging systems to
streamline the inventory and checkout processes for students to loan and
return the bikes and helmets.  Short- or long-term rentals are allowed with
bike racks located in several locations around campus. The keys and helmets
are checked out at the main campus library circulation desk. This
collaboration is an example of how an academic library can leverage their
knowledge and practices to advance the campus' sustainability efforts. 

With Clarkson's existing commitment to be sustainable in everything they do,
many of the libraries' operations consider the best use of resources and
materials to minimize the environmental impacts. Reuse and recycling are the
norm on campus, new ways to repurpose items are constantly being adapted and
applied. Furniture is used as long as possible and purchased only if
necessary items cannot be found elsewhere on campus. With all facilities on
campus working together to reduce waste and finding ways to recycle as much
as possible, there is a collaborative and transformational view of
sustainability that fosters new ideas.

Newly renovated spaces on campus including the libraries have Energy
Star-rated computers and appliances, energy efficient LED lighting and HVAC
systems, and low-flow bathroom fixtures. Clarkson University uses the
<https://www.siemens-energy.com/global/en.html> Siemens Tracking System to
compile and monitor energy use throughout the campus. There is a 12-acre,
2-megawatt solar field to generate clean energy for the campus. The
libraries purchase paper products with attention to getting the highest
recycled content possible and prohibit Styrofoam products. Reusable utensils
and dishware are used in the libraries' kitchen.

In addition to environmental sustainability, Clarkson University Libraries'
commitment to fiscal responsibility, community engagement, and social
wellbeing are essential to meet the full triple bottom line definition used
by the SLCP. Both within the library and throughout the campus, there is
stated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. This has been shown
in actions such as creating and publicizing an anti-discrimination reading
list,
<https://sites.clarkson.edu/library/anti-discrimination-reading-list/>
Expanding our Worldview, which includes a reading list and multimedia
resources to help students to consider new perspectives and challenge
themselves to find a broader context in understanding the experiences of
others. The libraries offer two undergraduate courses on digital citizenship
where students consider inequities in information access, inadequate
representation in scholarly research and publications from the global south,
and how the legacy of entrenched White, European biases in the library
cataloging systems continues to affect information organization and
representation. Representatives from Clarkson University Libraries
participated in student group meetings coinciding with the Black Lives
Matter protests in summer 2020. They took a close look at their collections,
diversified their offerings, and worked to expand their core support
services. These actions show that the library can be responsive to students'
needs and strengthen the libraries' relationship with the students.

In order to ensure continued access to a wide variety of resources, the
library works with University Administration to continually negotiate the
price and duration of contracts for electronic resources. Using extensive
data analysis, they are able to match the allocation of resources with what
is used by Clarkson University faculty, students, and staff. Participation
in an interlibrary loan program offers assurance that faculty and students
will be able to access resources beyond what the library currently holds.
When possible, longer contracts are sought, both to reduce costs and to
ensure the stability of the collections. 

Recent renovations of the Clarkson University Libraries space have sharpened
the focus on their physical space and storage. Creating more study and small
group space that is publicly accessible has led to a reduction in storage of
1.25 miles of print journals. With more archives available electronically,
the library has maintained access to most of these holdings without the need
for physical space. The finite space for print materials is both a challenge
and an advantage. The libraries' willingness to try an innovative open floor
plan earned them respect from the faculty, colleagues, and university
administration and helped to promote the library as a modern institution on
campus. The challenge of holding limited print resources has led to
marketing and outreach efforts that seek to redefine library services to
their campus community.

The libraries participate in campus events that are centered around
sustainability. In collaboration with the Institute for a Sustainable
Environment, they are planning an Earth Day celebration this year. This will
include publishing a sustainability related research guide on the website,
creating an in-library display promoting available electronic resources on
these topics, and social media blasts. Staff from the Clarkson University
Libraries also take part in " <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5vzPYiOAMs>
Take It or Leave It Day" each semester. This event encourages students to
donate items and 'shop' from items that other students have left.

The Dean of Clarkson University Libraries, Michelle Young, has worked to
build relationships on campus through her work on committees and
collaborations that focus on sustainability. Her willingness to transform
the libraries into a modern space when the opportunity arose has elevated
the position of the library on campus both as an institution and as a leader
in sustainability. Building on these efforts and to include social equity
and economic feasibility in their sustainability efforts have led to new
dialogues and additional growth.  

The Sustainable Libraries Initiative will continue to pilot our Academic
Library Certification Program with a full nationwide rollout of the program
anticipated later this year.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Webinar

The Sustainable Libraries Initiative will be holding a webinar,
<https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/event/diversity-equity-and-inclu
sion-sustainable-library> Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in a Sustainable
Library, on Monday, March 28th at 11am EST. This webinar will include a
panel discussion about the importance of continuing DEI work in libraries
with the authors of two excellent resources for libraries. 

Vendor Resources

Help us grow our Sustainable Vendors List! We will be launching our new
interactive Sustainable Vendors List for SLI Members. Please submit your
vendor suggestions using this
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVxpjopnZC_0eDkK_YsqKhIPN0orANuFD
hqNLwhwXlIJ_RKg/viewform?usp=sf_link> submission form or email:
<mailto:sliadmin at suffolknet.org> sliadmin at suffolknet.org.

Member News

Welcome to our newest SLCP Members: Bay Shore Brightwaters Public Library,
Kinderhook Memorial Library, and San Diego County Library. We are excited to
share ideas and expand our community of practice with our expanding
membership.

Upcoming Events

<https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/event/online-meetup-20-slcp-part
icipants> SLCP Member Meetup, Thursday, March 3rd, 11am EST 

<https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/events/ala-core-webinar-sustaina
ble-thinking-builds-strong-libraries-and-resilient-communities> ALA Core
Webinar: Sustainable Thinking Builds Strong Libraries and Resilient
Communities: Tuesday, March 15th, 2pm EST

<https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/event/diversity-equity-and-inclu
sion-sustainable-library> SLI Webinar: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in a
Sustainable Library, Monday, March, 28th, 11am EST

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