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- Title
Becoming green and sustainable: a Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library case study.
- Authors
Le Ber, Jeanne Marie; Gregory, Joan M.
- Abstract
The article discusses the case of Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, a medium-sized academic library located at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, which is engaged in the greening crusade and is working to encourage sustainable practices on campus. In the beginning, recycling efforts at the Eccles Library were minimal and championed by individuals. The same was true at other campus libraries and throughout the University of Utah. Recycling was not mandated at the University of Utah. No voluntary campus-wide recycling efforts existed other than the University Surplus and Salvage program. In 1999, the J. Willard Marriott Library, the main University of Utah library, formed a Green Team and invited the health sciences and law libraries to participate. The Green Team provided an opportunity to discuss how the libraries could become more environmentally sensitive in their practices. The results of the greening discussions include: setting up a recycling area for polystyrene plastic packaging; providing a container for collecting used batteries for proper toxic waste disposal; purchasing copy paper made from recycled paper; among others. A number of barriers were encountered along the way. These barriers were related to money, time, space and aesthetics. While recycling remains optional at the University of Utah, the libraries are creating change. As the case study illustrates, becoming a green library takes commitment from individuals as well as the larger organization. With support from staff and library colleagues, a significant impact is made on reducing waste, recycling discarded materials, and lessening impact on environment.
- Subjects
SALT Lake City (Utah); UTAH; UNITED States; MEDICAL libraries; WASTE recycling; LIBRARIES; UNIVERSITY of Utah
- Publication
Journal of the Medical Library Association, 2004, Vol 92, Issue 2, p266
- ISSN
1536-5050
- Publication type
Article