I wanted to expand on Peta Hopkins’ post about the dependence of Librarians on power and telecoms infrastructure. Not many people realise how much power computers require, and how much of a strain the internet puts on real-world resources. I recently heard a lecture series (podcast from UC Berkeley) called ‘Foundations of American Cyberculture’, where the lecturer said something along these lines: that if the ‘powers that be’ want to push information culture [and presumably economy] along, the first thing they should do is build another electricity plant…
I’m urgently concerned about carbon emissions and global warming. I’m also conscious that, in our excitement about Library2.0, despite widespread personal concern, it seems few librarians are making connections between professional issues and ecological responsibilities. We need to consider, in particular, the vulnerability of information systems and possible flow-on effects to libraries of potentially radical, deleterious social and economic changes. For example, ALIA doesn’t have an environmental policy. These are small but necessary steps for society-wide action.
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February 6, 2007 at 12:03
What is needed is an assessment of the impact of an ‘average library’ in regards to the generation of greenhouse gases and carbon emissions. Has this been done? Is there an online formula, where we could put in staff numbers, building space, etc. to do a rough calculation? It would be helpful. Michael
February 6, 2007 at 13:31
And what about the impact for the users of our online services? The more we make services and collections available online, a greater proportion of power usage in relation to those services is shifted away from the library into the customer’s home or workplace.
So if there is a calculator to figure this out, shouldn’t it also include some kind of estimator of how much power is used to consume the library’s resources off-site? That’s a mammoth-sized footprint!
February 7, 2007 at 07:15
I think the problem is that libraries are dependent on councils, organisations and universities to implement such changes – a policy from ALIA would only be a token effort. Even ALA’s Task Force on the Environment has not created such a policy (though they are worth checking out if you are interested in sustainability and climate issues from a library perspective).
The power at my library goes out a few times a year, a quirk of our location. We certainly notice immediately the impact that being without power makes – after all we no longer have card catalogues so to even find books in this situation, we grab the volumes of DDC and give people an approximate number to start at!
February 7, 2007 at 09:49
Fiona, it’s a scary thought that, scrambling for the Dewey, you might be the future of librarianship!