Library Sustainability

 

Fondren Library embraces the American Library Association’s value of sustainability, affirming that “(l)ibraries play an important and unique role in promoting community awareness about resilience, climate change and a sustainable future. They are also leading by example by taking steps to reduce their environmental footprint.”

As the library’s Sustainability Plan (written in 2019) explains, Fondren aims to:

  • Promote sustainable approaches to library spaces, including energy efficiency, reduced water usage, and an orientation toward wellness
  • Reduce resource consumption
  • Deepen library support for research and teaching in sustainability
  • Collect and preserve environmentally-focused information and materials, especially those produced by Rice faculty and students
  • Engage with the Rice community to foster a culture of sustainability

Additional information about sustainability at Fondren can be found on the library’s website.

Collections in this community

Recent Submissions

  • Fire & Flood Panel Discussion 

    Raditz, Vanessa; Loftin, Kennedy; Gupta, Kristin; Fondren Library; Rice's Center for Environmental Studies; (2021-04-01)
    Recording of a virtual panel discussion about the documentary “Fire & Flood: Queer Resilience in the Era of Climate Change.” Panelists included Vanessa Raditz, director of the documentary; Kennedy Loftin, chief development officer at the Montrose Center; and Rice anthropology graduate student Kristin Gupta. Fire & Flood examines two climate-related ...

  • Academic Libraries Join the Fight Against Climate Change 

    Spiro, Lisa; Fitzpatrick, Ashley (2020)
    In 2017, Hurricane Harvey dumped over 50 inches of rain on Houston, causing approximately 100 deaths and $125 billion in damage. Research indicates that Harvey’s impact was worsened by climate change. More recently wildfires, floods, and droughts - as well as concerted action by climate activists - have demonstrated the urgency of fighting climate ...

  • Justice and Transformation: Houston Women on Climate Action 

    King, Denae; Howe, Cymene; Dinn, Amy Catherine; Gonzalez, Iris; Fondren Library; (2020-10-28)
    From fires to floods, the consequences of climate change are increasingly evident, and underserved communities often face the most severe impacts. Inspired by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Dr. Katharine Wilkinson’s All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, this virtual panel discussion brought together four Houston women ...

  • Rice University: Fondren Library Sustainability Plan 

    Fitzpatrick, Ashley; Borodina, Svetlana; Spiro, Lisa; Fondren Library (2019)
    As awareness of climate change and other environmental and social problems grow, many libraries and librarians are dedicating themselves to sustainability, “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”3 We call upon Fondren Library to practice and promote sustainability ...

  • Sustainability at Home Guide 

    Fondren Library Green Team; Fondren Library (2020)
    Tips for integrating sustainable practices at home.