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Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery

Health Literacy Newsletter: Spring 2023

Introduction

This semester, the HLWG’s theme is environmental health. The CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) plans, directs, and coordinates programs to protect people from environmental hazards. They promote a healthy environment and prevent premature death, avoidable illness and disability caused by non-infectious, non-occupational environmental and related factors.https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/

Environmental health is an issue of great importance in libraries of all types. Listed in this libguide are a number of resources to help with safeguarding patrons, employees, and property.

Reading Material

Social Media, Website and Other Resources

Sustainablity Librarians group on LinkedIn
Discussion group on LinkedIn for librarians interested in environmental sustainability.

Sustainable libraries: http://sustainablelibraries.org/. Rebekka Smith Aldrich's blog and other resources about sustainability and green design in libraries, including posts about her regular LibraryJournal column, conferences and other events, new publications, and general thoughts. 

Sustainablity RT Blog. http://olos.ala.org/sustainrt/. The official blog of the ALA Sustainability Round Table, updated regularly with book reviews and recommendations, events, member information, etc. 

Green Libraries: A Website for Information about Green and Sustainable Libraries. http://www.greenlibraries.org/. Maintained by Monika Antonelli at Minnesota State University, this is "a website dedicated to documenting the greening of libraries in North America. This site contains a growing list of libraries that are constructing green buildings. It also contains a list of resources to help people make their libraries more green and sustainable."

Charney, M. & Aldrich, R. S. (Fall 2016). Sustainable building design. Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship http://istl.org/16-fall/internet2.html. "The intended audience for this webliography is librarians, both in the sciences and in other disciplines, and others that are new to the field such as students and members of the general public who are interested in this topic. Sustainable building practitioners may find parts useful as well. The general resources provide a starting point for researching the sustainable building movement, while the remaining resources cover specific subtopics: building techniques; design processes; indoor environmental quality; water use; directories; forums; professional associations; and certification programs, standards, and codes. This resource is applicable to researching industrial, commercial, residential, and community-based buildings."

Sustainablity and Libraries LibGuide. http://libguides.ala.org/SustainableLibraries. This LibGuide was first created for the Libraries Build Sustainable Communities project in 1999-2001, and is being maintained by ALA.

ACRL: Academic Library Building Design: Resources for Planning

Academic Library Building Design: Questions to ask yourself about the environmental safety of your library. 

  • Does the library provide well-planned, secure, and sufficient space to meet the perceived needs of staff and users?
  • Are building mechanical systems properly designed and maintained to control temperature and humidity at recommended levels?
  • What are the perceptions of users regarding the provision of conducive study spaces, including a sufficient number of seats and varied types of seating?
  • Is there enough space for current library collections and future growth of print resources?
  • Does the staff have sufficient workspace, and is it configured to promote efficient operations for current and future needs?
  • Does the library's signage facilitate use and navigation of the facilities?
  • Does the library provide ergonomic workstations for its users and staff?
  • Are electrical and network wiring sufficient to meet the needs associated with current and future electronic access?
  • Does the library meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act?
  • Are facilities provided to distance learners fully considered? 

Green Libraries