Remember libraries … from an ecological point of view, [that's] the virtuous way to go.
Daniel Goleman, author of Ecological Intelligence: The Hidden Impacts of What We Buy, during a recent interview with public radio’s Tom Ashbrook.
By way of introducing Life Cycle Assessment, a cradle-to-grave methodology for evaluating environmental impact, Daniel Goleman refuted the widely accepted notion that eReaders are more eco-friendly than books in a recent interview on public radio. Click to Listen.
If I were a library leader, I’d embrace environmentalism as a way to improve operations, provide vital information to constituents and set an example for the communities we serve. Here are some of the things I’d do:
- Educate myself; there’s lots of bogus information out there.
- Perform life cycle assessments on library operations and publish the findings on the website. Invite comments and questions to spur community involvement and resource sharing.
- Establish a fundraising program through Gazelle, a firm started by a former eBay founder to recycle electronics. Most folks want to get rid of old stuff, help the environment and support their library without paying additional taxes. They’re also looking for convenience. Gazelle delivers all these things.
- LCA graphic adapted from a Proctor & Gamble illustration.
