De Gruyter Saur - ENSULIB - IFLA logo block

What is a Green Library?

“The consideration of the role of humanity in climate change and the notion of sustainable development are core concerns of society, and consequently of libraries.”

According to the Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science (ODLIS), Green Libraries are, “designed to minimize negative impact on the natural environment and maximize indoor environmental quality by means of careful site selection, use of natural construction materials and biodegradable products, conservation of resources (water, energy, paper), and responsible waste disposal (recycling, etc.)”

Green Libraries also focus on related services, activities, events, literature and projects, demonstrating the social role and responsibility of libraries as leaders in environmental sustainability.

Objectives of the IFLA Green Library Award

  • To reward the Green Library submission that best communicates the library’s commitment to environmental sustainability
  • To create awareness of libraries’ social responsibility and leadership in environmental education.
  • To support the worldwide Green Library movement, concerned with:

    • environmentally sustainable buildings
    • environmentally sustainable information resources and programming
    • conservation of resources and energy
  • To promote the development of Green Libraries initiatives locally and worldwide
  • To encourage all types of libraries to actively present their green activities to an international audience

Relevance to IFLA’s Strategy

Following IFLA’s Key Initiative 1.1 to Show the power of libraries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals the award will help to advance the profession through illuminating the role of libraries and librarians in the advancement of sustainability standards and the promotion of specialized knowledge within professional practice.

Guidelines for submissions

  • Any type of library with an outstanding Green Library project, initiative or idea may apply for the IFLA Green Library Award. The project, initiative or idea may be presented in various ways (e.g. essay, video, poster, article, set of slides)

    • Applications must be written in one of the seven IFLA languages
    • Applicants may also submit an English translation if they prefer
    • Film and Video materials in languages other than English must have English subtitles
    • Applications should have max. 10 MB in size, if video: published on Youtube.
  • The presentation of the project, initiative or idea should be submitted to the ENSULIB award reviewing committee
  • The quality and relevance of the project, initiative or idea will be evaluated by the ENSULIB committee in terms of

    • applicability to the goals and the scope of ENSULIB
    • contribution of libraries to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
    • quality of the overall presentation
    • relevance to IFLA’s Strategy (Key Initiative 1.1)

Download the application form: [English – MS Word]

Applications must be submitted before 31 January 2020 to: matti.k.jarvinen@hel.fi

Submissions will be reviewed by the ENSULIB award reviewing committee and will be unbiased and neutral. Notification of the winner and runners up will be sent in February 2020.

The finalist will be recognized for their outstanding submission. The award includes € 500, sponsored by De Gruyter publishing house, and will be presented at the 86th IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Dublin, Ireland.

Petra Hauke, ENSULIB Convenor

On behalf of ENSULIB,
The Environment, Sustainability and Libraries Special Interest Group of IFLA