Going beyond Environmental Programs and Green Practices at the American Library Association

the librarianship presents the twenty-two years of ALA’s “green” units, programs, practices, initiatives, and actions, and acknowledges librarians involved in these activities. Most of the programs and actions included in the timeline organized by the Task Force on the member Social Responsibilities Round include: Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT), Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA), Association of College and Research (ACRL), Government Documents Round Table (GODAR), Library and Information Technology (LITA), Public Library Association (PLA), and Business Reference & Services Section (BRASS).

In the year of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in the Gulf of Alaska, Elizabeth Morrissett, a librarian from the Alaska Pacific University, received approval from the Action Council to form the Task Force on the Environment. According to Elizabeth, "such a task force is long overdue within SRRT and ALA, especially given the current governmental situation in the U.S." 1 The first organizational meetings of the Task took place at the ALA annual conference in Dallas. The TFOE was the first official venue for ALA librarians interested in environmental issues following the lead of librarians in the Special Library Association (SLA), who by the late 1970s already worked on and discussed issues related to the dissemination of environmental information, management of natural resources, and libraries' roles in supporting environmental research.

1990
The Task Force on the Environment and its business meeting during the Annual ALA Chicago conference.
The Task's objectives were then and still are today:  "Promote awareness of environmental issues within ALA.
 Unite librarians and information professionals for mutual benefit and support.
 Provide TFOE members with opportunities for career development, skills enhancement, and leadership experiences.
 Facilitate networking among peers and professional associates.
 Provide services, programs and publications that assist TFOE members and others in their careers, workplaces, homes and communities." 2 Terry Link, an information/reference librarian from Michigan State University Library took the TFOE's helm after Elizabeth Morrissett. During the Chicago conference the members of the Task met four times to discuss its role in the ALA, programs for future conferences, and related projects. The same year the Library Journal published an article by Terry Link and members of the TFOE titled "Sources for Small Planet: Environmental Bibliographies Reflect a Question of Values." In the article, the founding members of the TFOE compiled sources pertaining to green consumerism, biodiversity, pesticides, periodicals, books for parents and children on the environment, online information, and sources of environmental information with a listing of first electronic forums on BITNET, Biosphere, Ecology Discussion List, Conslink, Econet, and Usenet news groups. 3 In October 1990 the Canadian Library Journal published a "First Prize" article by Susan Safyan titled "Access to Information for Environmentalists: a Library Perspectives."

1991
Environmental programs during the ALA Annual Conference in Atlanta: -How Green is Your Library: Environmentalists at Work, -Empowering the Public: Information Literacy for Environmental Issues, -Environmental Information Resources, -TFOE members supported the idea of publishing Green Library Journal: Environmental Topics in the Information World.
In Atlanta the Task's first program presented "How Green is Your Library: Environmentalists at Work," where Laurie Sabol, Elaine Clark, Terry Link, and John Sams focused on environmental issues concerning all libraries, and various "green" initiatives in libraries. The Task also co-sponsored two sessions. The first session "Empowering the Public: Information Literacy for Environmental Issues," was organized in collaboration with ACRL's Law & Political Science Section, and provided an overview of legal environmental issues that people confront at the local, state, and national level. The second session was organized in collaboration with the Public Library Association Metropolitan Libraries Section on "Environmental Information Resources." During the Task's business meetings librarians discussed the agenda items such as greening the ALA conferences, sick building syndromes, race, poverty, and an environmental awards for publishers, support in publishing by the University of Idaho Library Green Library Journal: Environmental Topics in the Information World, and the program for the next conference. -The resolution on use of chlorine-free paper The resolution on use of chlorine-free paper was brought to the floor for discussion and for final presentation to SRRT at the 1997 Midwinter meeting in Washington, DC. The resolution recommended that ALA Publishing and Reprographics services use only chlorine-free paper. TFOE held two programs in San Francisco in 1997: "The Need for an Environmental Information Infrastructure," and "Environmental Education Resources for the 21st Century." The Task concentrated on the ALA Budget Analysis and Review Committee's answer to the resolution on chlorine-free paper, which stated that moving to chlorine-free printing would increase ALA expenses from $70,000 to $120,000 annually. The resolution recommended that ALA Publishing and Reprographics use only chlorine-free paper. The new chair was elected; Maria Anna Jankowska returned to the helm of the Task with Fred Stoss as the co-chair. In order to improve communication inside and outside the American Library Association, TFOE's home page was created with links to valuable information sources. The TFOE's mailing list was established.

1998
Environmental programs during the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, DC: -Social Research and GIS: Applications for the Library, -National Institute for the Environment (NIE) and a National Library for the Environment (NLE)--An Update, -Global Reach Local Touch: The Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters Libraries, -It Isn't Easy to be Green: Environmentally Friendly Libraries Sustaining Our Resources.

-SRRT passed Resolution for Environmentally Responsible Papers
The ALA Action Council Budget Analysis and Review Committee (BARC) did not recommend moving to chlorine free paper due to the significantly greater expense (increase in publishing and printing expenses from $70,000 to $120,000 annually) and limited exposure of the elementally chlorine free paper that is currently used. 5 The ALA Committee on Legislation did not endorse the NIE and NLE. Going Green @ ALA was a theme for the 1998 conference in Washington, DC. The TFOE program at the conference entitled "Chemical Facts --Essential Resources for Your Library Collection" presented two significant sources on hazardous substances: Chemical Fact Sheets published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Chemical Scorecard published by Environmental Defense. During the Washington conference the members of the Task participated in the programs discussing "Social Research and GIS: Applications for the Library," "National Library for the Environment --An Update," and "Global Reach Local Touch: The Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters Libraries." This last program was open house held at the EPA HQ Information Resources Center in Washington, D.C. Another conference program devoted to environmental issues titled "It Isn't Easy to be Green: Environmentally Friendly Libraries Sustaining Our Resources" was organized by the LLAMA Safety and Security of Library Buildings Committee. During TFOE business meeting the members of the Task endorsed the concept of a digital National Library for the Environment, discussed a resolution for environmentally responsible papers, and a program for the New Orleans conference. Maria A. Jankowska remained the chair for the next year. In New Orleans, the Task presented "Environmental Resources for Public, School, and Academic Libraries: Making Environmental Information Relevant" with Carolyn Offutt, Richard Huffine, Fred Stoss, and Maria Jankowska as speakers. This program concentrated on the essentials of the EPA Superfund Program, navigating the EPA in cyberspace, resources for Earth Day, and the Electronic Green Journal. The second program, "GIS as a Tool for Collaborative Spatial Decision Making (CSDM): Libraries Perspective," was co-sponsored by LITA Geographic Information Systems Interest Group. The program presented by Dr. Piotr Jankowski was focused on collaborative spatial decision making, an emerging field combining GIS and a group approach to decision-making, and its application to an environmental restoration plan for the Duwamish Waterway in Seattle. The program also presented the Idaho Geospatial Data Center, known today as Interactive Numeric and Spatial Information Data Center (INSIDE Idaho), as an example of an on-line geographical data repository responding to public needs for spatial information. Two business meetings concentrated on the questions of the relevancy of the Task's activities to librarians' interests and needs, and steps aimed at attracting more members. Maria Jankowska and Fred Stoss were elected as co-chairs. The ALA president, Sarah Ann Long, focused her 1999-2000 term on the theme "Libraries Build Community." In her presidential address, she stated, "Libraries in the United States have a unique opportunity to show their concern about the environment." 6 One of her initiatives was support for a special pre-conference workshop held at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago on "Sustaining Communities: Deciding Tomorrow Today" was the theme of the workshops taking places in American libraries during 2001. The workshop participants enjoyed an interactive activity called "Postcards from Home." The postcards addressed issues related to traffic and parking lot space in a small suburban town, damaging results of coal mining in mountain ranges, unplanned development, urban sprawl and saving pristine drinking water sources. As part of the workshop the participants also enjoyed the Community Inventory Role Playing activity. This exercise demonstrated how public libraries could be involved in local communities in many domains including: economic development, air quality, land use, job training, health care, civic participation, literacy, and quality education. The ALA theme on "Libraries Build Community" brought important sustainability ideas into the librarian profession, and showed ways to change the libraries' image as an active partner in building local sustainable communities. 7 "Libraries Build Sustainable Communities" was a major theme for the Association in 1999-2001, and saw nearly 1,900 librarians trained in expanding their knowledge and outreach on the concepts of sustainability--nearly ten years before "sustainable" became a common household term." 8 In Chicago, the TFOE organized a program on "Earth Day in the 21st century: Environmental Activism," with Denis Hayes, one of the co-founders of the first Earth Day in 1970. The second program, "Sustaining Libraries for the Future: Energy Efficiency, Friendly Buildings, and Libraries' Sustainability," presented three speakers. Donald Wulfinghoff from Wulfinghoff Energy Services explained how libraries could have more funds to buy library materials by savings energy expenses, while James Weiner offered practical guidelines on how to plan, design, and operate library buildings that are energy efficient and conserve resources. Cate Gable from Axion Communications International focused on how information technology and the global ecological crises could impact the sustainability of libraries. Maria A. Jankowska, University of Idaho Library and Irwin Weintraub, Rutgers University Library, were elected as the co-chairs of the Task.

2002
Environmental program during the ALA Annual Conference in Atlanta: -Promoting Public Health and Community Protection: Can Libraries Help?, -Going Green without Going Broke: High Impact, Low Cost.
In Atlanta the Task program on "Promoting Public Health and Community Protection: Can Libraries Help?" was presented by Mary Hudak from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and focused on outreach and information dissemination during disaster relief. The program "Going Green without Going Broke: High Impact, Low Cost" highlighted environmentally responsible products and solutions adopted in the building of Multnomah County library. Speakers included the library director -Ginnie Cooper, the architect -Ralph DiNola, and Alan Locke -the principal in the consulting engineering firm involved in the building's design.

2003
Environmental programs during the ALA Annual Conference in Toronto: -Clear the Air and Water -Environmental selections for children, the public and academic libraries, -Ralph Nader, American Green Party leader was a keynote speaker for the ALA President's Program. Ralph Nader, the 2000 Green Party presidential candidate, was the keynote speaker for Maurice J. Freedman's ALA President's Program. "Clear the Air and Water -Environmental selections for children, the public and academic libraries" was focused on a selection of environmental resources for children, academic researchers, and the general public. The program speakers included Judy Halpern, a specialist in using children's eco-literature to inspire learning and the creator of The Magic Suitcase in Kitchener ON; Maria A. Latyszewskyj, Head, Environment Canada Library in Toronto; and Tim Grant, Co-Editor, Green Teacher in Canada, who discussed and demonstrated various outreach initiatives going beyond library walls to educate the public about the environment. Maria A. Jankowska, University of Idaho Library and Jonathan Betz-Zall, Branch Librarian, City University, Everett, Washington became the co-chairs of the Task Force. For the first time, ALA conference attendees enjoyed discounted rates on bicycle rentals to help them get around Chicago without having to burn petroleum fuel. The discounted rate was $10 per day, which included the use of a helmet and lock. The program "Get the Lead (Information) Out!" presented access to timely information helping to identify children at risk in urban, suburban, and rural communities, and neighborhoods. Speakers from federal, state, and local lead poisoning prevention programs described the extent of the problem and efforts to prevent lead exposure, and addressed the issue of community involvement in preventing and stopping lead poisoning. The Task also organized the Open House at the EPA library in Chicago and joint ALA Conference Services in discussing how ALA's conferences could best observe "green" practices. Fred Stoss and Jonathan Betz-Zall were elected as the co-chairs of the Task Force.

2006
Environmental programs during the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando: -Preparedness Matters Planning for Disaster, -Ecolibrarian -website on environmental information sources from Seattle Public Library by Jonathan Betz-Zall was created. The ALA took strong action in saving the EPA and federal libraries:  During the midwinter conference in Philadelphia, a campaign "Cup by Cup for a Greener ALA" sparked by Monika Antonelli from the Minnesota State University was considered a successful environmental campaign. The Task also organized a program on "Nature and the Environment @ your library: Nature Journals as a Tool for Children's Library Program," which presented the use of nature journaling to enhance children's literacy environmental programs in libraries. Speakers included Doug Wechsler, Director, The Academy of Natural Sciences; Mark Baldwin, Director of Education; Roger Tory Peterson, Institute of Natural History; and Andy Boyles, Science Editor, Boyds Mill Press and Highlights for Children magazine. In Anaheim the Task presented two programs. "Earth Wind and Fire @ Your Library: Changing Climate and Changing Lives" was focused on the consequences of global warming in our homes, places of work, and recreation. The program emphasized the "global" aspects of global climate change while discussing energy-smart and environmentally friendly behaviors needed to address climate crisis. In Settle, the ACRL's conference attendees signed "green pledge" to put ecological ideas into practice. The conference featured bags made of recycled materials and the lack of tangible handouts at program sessions. The conference was called as "the most eco-friendly major event ever held by an ALA division." 11 During ALA midwinter conference in Denver the TFOE discussion was focused on "Kermit, It Is Easy Being Green! Librarians' Perspectives and Ideas." In Chicago Wanda Urbanska urged the crowd to make green choices in their libraries and their lives. "Reclaim your role as eco-role models and exemplars in your community," she said, "change is happening rapidly. Let libraries continue to be at the center of it." 13 The Task presented "Grassroots Greening /Greening Libraries from the Inside" focusing on energy usage in libraries.

Conclusions
For more than twenty years, the ALA librarians have worked on many environmental resolutions, programs, actions, campaigns, activities, and operations. The TFOE together with SRRT, LLAMA, ACRL, GODOR, LITA, BRASS, and PLA worked on introducing chlorine-free paper in publishing and communication operations, greening conferences, environmental initiatives aimed at book publishing, 14 and disseminating environmental information. Other activities involved participating in environmental scholarly communication by publishing Electronic Green Journal, saving the EPA libraries, and contributing to building sustainable communities as well as designing and building green libraries.
The diversity of activities covered many facets of environmental sustainability in libraries and librarianship.
Looking into the future, we should move beyond environmental sustainability exemplified by various practices of "greening libraries" and focus on proactive steps to guarantee future sustainable development of libraries. The concept of sustainable development advocating a balance between economic growth, social equity, and ecology "that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" 15 moved from theory into practice after the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. Libraries have already started practicing this concept before Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992. Libraries' operations had the basic characteristics of sustainable practices long before the concept of sustainability gained a wider acceptance. The economic model of library operations is characterized by frequent borrowing instead of constant buying of information materials, and by sharing of resources rather than unnecessary duplication. Social equity values have been practiced in libraries by collecting, archiving, preserving, and providing public access to collections for current and future users. Environmental values have been expressed by developing collections focused on environmental topics, teaching environmental literacy, disseminating environmental information, building green libraries, and green practices and sustainable solutions taking place in libraries.
It is time for libraries to go beyond exercising environmental stewardship in collaboration with the publishing industry, greening of the ALA conferences, requiring green practices and products from vendors. Libraries should collaborate with campuses and communities on increasing awareness of sustainability in areas of social equity, responsible investments, and ecology. Academic library services and practices could support institutional curricular and research needs promoting open access, institutional repositories, retaining author rights, building sustainability-related collections and research guides, incorporating sustainability content into instruction and teaching, and collaborating on sustainability research and teaching projects.