What Can Libraries Do to Get People Involved Environmentally?

[Fred Stoss <fstoss@acsu.buffalo.edu>]

As part of the American Library Association's Task Force on the
Environment programs at the ALA Annual Meeting in July 2000 in
Chicago, a panel discusion was held on How Libraries Can Make 
Everyday Earth Day. This was done as part of the TFOE celebration 
of the 30th anniversary of Earth Day earlier this year. 

Here is my list of 8 things libraries and librarians can do to 
get people coming to your library to think and do things about 
the environment:

#1 Establish Library-Community Partners
Library Links and Community Outreach 
   Libraries - Individuals
   Libraries - Communities
   Libraries - Businesses 
   Libraries - Institutions & Organizations
   Libraries - Agencies (federal, state, county, local) 
   Libraries - Citizens

Why Partnerships?
Libraries and Librarians Have:
   Expertise
   Trust & Confidence 
   Resources Information Sharing 
   Data Resources (numeric, digital)
   Human & Institutional Expertise 
   Information Resources (print, electronic)
   Outreach & Networking

Empower -- Strength by Sharing
Library Outreach Programs Can Provide the Community with:
   Facilities (for community meetings)
   Resources (videos, books, speakers, handouts, etc.) 
   Facilitators (introduces & stimulates)
   Backgounders/Path Finders/Library Guides -- How to EFFECTIVE 
                                               USE your library 
   Other resources as needed
We already do this! So we can do it for environmental themes as
well.

#2
Hold an Environmental Video Series
   Bullfrog Films    http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/
   Environmental Media   http://www.envmedia.com/
   Films for the Humanities and Sciences   http://www.films.com/ 
   Hawkhill Video   http://www.hawkhill.com/
   Media Basics Video http://www.mediabasicsvideo.com/
   Teacher's Video Company http://www.videoproject.org/

#3
Hold Book Review and Discussion Programs
   Single event or series
   Select book(s) 
   Set historical setting for the book's subject
      -background of author
      -environmental and community significance of book
      -book in current perspective
      -how the work stimulated or sustained thoughts or activities 
       about the environment
      -how it pertains for today's environmental issues and 
       concerns

#4 
Lecture Series -- More ambitious 
   Local (state and national if possible or feasible) speakers 
   Different perspectives or constituencies
      Economy ~ Equity ~ Ecology
   Brown Bag series 
   Full-day conference or symposium
   Community Speakers
   Government agencies, departments, or bureaus 
   Elected officials
   College or university faculty 
   Community or neighborhood groups 
   Environmental educators (museum, science/nature centers, and 
     teachers) 
   Local/regional professional organizations 
      American Chemical Society
      County Bar Association
      Sea Grant and Agricultural Extensions 
      American Library Association and Special Libraries 
        Association
      Environmental Managers (business and industry)
      Local and Regional Planners
      Economic / Community Development
      Print & Broadcast Media, Communication Specialist
      Architects & Builders
      Nonprofit Advocacy Groups
         [Those representing the rich diversity of interests 
          related to environmental and sustainable issues, see 
          the National Wildlife Federation’s Conservation 
          Directory]
      Civic Groups

#5
Conduct How-to Workshops
   Living at Home
      Gardening
      Flowers, Shade/Cover, Vegetable
      Under your sink, in your basement & garage
      Managing household wastes
      Home energy audits
         Energy conservation & efficiency into your home
      Beyond recycling - reducing wastes
   Living in Your Community
      Explore open spaces and greenways
      Apply for a Brownfields application
      Community Gardens
      How to write a grant
      Organize Street / Neighborhood beautification cleanup
      Dialogue about Urban-Suburban-Rural issues
      How to Start a Car Pool
      How-to Workshops
      Living in Nature 
      Outdoor/nature photography
      Birding (bird watching)
      Hiking/backpacking
      Crafts from nature
      Road side explorations
         geology
         biology: flowers, trees, birds

#6
Empowering Citizens of Commons - Education Programs
   Ecology -- Basic Science Concepts
   Energy Efficiency and Conservation  
   Sustainable Education for Teachers and Youth Leaders
   Environmental GIS training  
   Toxicology for the Non-Toxicologist 
   Environmental Information (for other librarians on locating
     and using information resources)
   Laws, Codes, Zoning for Non-Lawyers
   Stimulating Local Economies
   Environmental Mediation
   Socially Responsible Investing

#7
Recognize Community Achievements 
   Community stewardship award
   Community leader
   Nonprofit organization
   Community group
   Student
   Teacher
   Organization
   Business/industry

#8
Children's / Youth Poster, Poetry, Essay, Activity Contest

Pick a theme; Select a panel of judges; Invite students to 
submit their poster work; Work with teachers, youth leaders, 
parents; Display all entries; Select winners give away simple 
ribbons or certificates or gift certificates or scholarships

Libraries CAN do creative things. Need resources? Contact 
your Regional EPA Library for help.

Fred Stoss
University at Buffalo