Green Library Checklist: Sustainable buildings, equipment, and management

Toolkit/framework/roadmap

Resources

Docs & Forms

OCM Datasheet

Intended Audience

“This checklist is equally helpful for the green library project planners, managers, students, researchers, analyst, and policymakers.”

P. Hauke, K. Latimer (eds.), K. U. Werner (translation), International Federation of Libraries and Archives (IFLA)

2013

“For any construction project, just as for any complex undertaking in general, a checklist provides a useful means of confirming that everything has been considered. Although it cannot claim to be exhaustive, the following list of aspects of planning, construction, and also library operation, is designed to help ensure that everything has been considered…

The checklist covers the green building project planning, financing, site selection, structure, construction, materials, climate, energy management, recycling as well as green information and communication technology (Green IT), User services, Library facility management, strategic goals, marketing and PR, Green building certificates and more.”

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5Ps

Planet

Actions

SDGs LINKAGES

The resource is most closely linked to SDG 12.6 (adopt sustainable practices and reporting), which helps support a number of targets around the sustainable use of natural resources (SDG 12.2), managing chemicals and wastes (SDG 12.4), reducing waste generation (SDG 12.5) and SDG 12.7 (sustainable procurement), and SDG 13.3. (contributing to climate action). Development of sustainable infrastructure supports SDG 9.1 and retrofitting infrastructure supports SDG 9.4; using renewable energy supports SDG 7.1, and enhancing energy efficiency supports SDG 7.2.

Click on the SDG Target to discover Our Collections Matter indicators

SDG 7.2: Increase Global Percentage of Renewable Energy
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of energy that comes from renewable sources.
Date to achieve net zero, and milestones towards that date.
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SDG 7.3: Double the Improvement in Energy Efficiency
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Reduction in energy use.
Upgrade of old equipment to more efficient equipment.
Uptake of renewable sources of energy.
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SDG 9.1: Develop Sustainable, Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructures
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Development of research-useful collections to support reliable, sustainable and resilient use by researchers and others.
Number and proportion of collections facilities and stores that support economic development and human well-being.
Number and proportion of collections facilities and stores that provide affordable and equitable access for all.
Investment in collections facilities.
Inclusion of collections information in regional and transborder initiatives, notably via digital access for discoverability.
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SDG 9.4: Upgrade All Industries and Infrastructures for Sustainability
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and proportion of collections facilities that make efficient use of resources, with an ongoing drive for efficiencies and reductions in energy use and waste of all forms.
Number and proportion of collections facilities that use clean and environmentally sound technologies, including climate-friendly energy sources and materials, with an ongoing commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste of all forms.
Number and proportion of collections facilities that adopt and/or prioritise collections-related processes and practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste of all forms.
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SDG 12.2: Sustainable Management and Use of Natural Resources
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Reduction of material footprint in terms of reductions in consumption of biomass, fossil fuels, metal ores and non-metal ores.
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SDG 12.4: Responsible Management of Chemicals and Waste
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Quantities, and reduction in quantities, of chemicals of all kinds, including chemicals used in maintenance of collections facilities, and chemicals used in care and preparation of collections, and all wastes throughout their life cycle, reducing release to air, water and soil.
Plans in place to eliminate the use and release of hazardous chemicals and harmful wastes of all kinds into the natural environment as soon as possible.
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SDG 12.5: Substantially Reduce Waste Generation
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Quantity and reductions in quantity of waste of all kinds, including avoidance/prevention of waste production, reuse, and recycling. Quantity of material recycled in comparison with quantity sent to landfill. Increases in recycling rate in comparison with landfill.
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SDG 12.6: Encourage Companies to Adopt Sustainable Practices and Sustainability Reporting
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Clear visions, strategies and plans in place for all aspects of sustainability – environmental, social and economic (people, planet, prosperity)- across all areas of activity.
Visions, strategies and plans relating to sustainability to be publicly available and incorporated into planning documents.
Commitments to be in line with local, regional, national and/or international targets and ambitions.
Incorporation of sustainability into reporting for funders and other stakeholders, including the public. Reporting to include commitments and progress towards targets.
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SDG 12.7: Promote Sustainable Public Procurement Practices
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Incorporation of sustainability considerations into procurement, in terms of advertisement and invitation to tender, contracts, and selection criteria for suppliers.
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SDG 13.3: Build Knowledge and Capacity to Meet Climate Change
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Plans in place to enhance positive contributions to addressing climate change through use of collections. Plans in place to ensure collections, collections institutions and broader society can adapt effectively to climate change.
Plans in place for effective education and awareness raising on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
Plans in place to reduce negative contributions of collections-related functions, e.g. measuring greenhouse emissions with plans and targets in place to reduce them.
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