Global Warming's Library Challenge

Like every institution that uses energy, consumes resources, and engages in construction or renovation, libraries have an impact on the environment and on the critical problem of climate change.

As guardians of library collections for future generations, librarians have a responsibility to diminish this impact, as well as an opportunity to do more. Facing up to the challenges of global warming is a chance to lay the groundwork now for the security of their collections and make a decisive contribution to the long-range future of libraries.

Taking action to protect library collections is not only an idealistic professional goal but also a very practical one. Disaster preparation measures and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through energy conservation can save money, time, and resources.

There is already an urgent need for libraries to engage in preventative actions, even before concerns related to a deteriorating environment are added to the challenge. In the case of major disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, recovery expenses can be overwhelming. “The cost to avert this tragedy was approximately two billion dollars. It will cost taxpayers 200 to 300 billion dollars to rebuild [New Orleans],” report Edward Mazria and Kristina Kershner in “Nation Under Siege.”

In both disaster planning and long-range efforts to reduce their impact on global warming, libraries have the chance to serve as models for other institutions in the community and the nation.

Librarians are accustomed to dealing with environmental issues as part of their preservation responsibilities. However, a growing environmental threat puts a new perspective on those concerns.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states, “Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level.” Based on research by NASA, one dramatic indicator of change is the shrinking summertime Arctic sea ice, which has melted 40 percent since 1979 alone. The National Research Council observes, “Both carbon dioxide and methane are more abundant in the Earth's atmosphere now than at any time during the past 400,000 years.”

The severity of global warming has started to pierce the consciousness of governments, corporations, and citizens worldwide. However, with deeply ingrained patterns of energy use and tons of greenhouse gases with which to deal, solutions cannot be delayed or left to a few leaders.

The undeniable threats libraries face from climate change are coupled with specific needs unique to a library environment. Ranging from catastrophic natural disasters to ongoing pressures to maintain a suitable collections storage environment, librarians must learn about and understand the coming impact of global warming on their collections.

Rising temperatures are the most direct consequence of global warming. The best models from the IPCC indicate average temperatures are likely to be about 3°F to 7°F higher by the end of the 21st century. The U.S. Global Change Research Programs predicts “summer conditions in New York might be more like those now experienced in Atlanta, summers in Atlanta might be more like those now experienced in Houston, and future summers in Houston might be more like those in Panama.” This level of environmental change will undoubtedly affect the efforts of librarians to keep people comfortable and materials safe.

A case study, based on the IPCC temperature projections, shows a significant drop in the Time-Weighted Preservation Index (TWPI), a measure developed to indicate how temperature and relative humidity affect the rate of natural aging in organic materials in collections (see Table 1, p. 28). From data with a baseline measurement of 39 years, the TWPI drops to 32 in the best-case IPCC temperature projection and falls to 25 years in the worst-case projection. The best-case projection is an almost 18 percent decrease in the life span of collection materials owing to global warming temperature. The worst-case projection means a 36 percent decrease. Add increased incidents of heat waves and droughts, which are also likely, and these results indicate an even greater cause for concern as librarians try to maintain safe environmental controls for their holdings.

Air quality and pollution can affect library materials. From black soot commonly found in urban and industrial areas to gaseous and particulate pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), microscopic toxins are dangerously easy to overlook. Pollution levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for human health are too high for collections. In 1990, William Lull reasoned that a human body can repair itself, whereas a collection cannot, and the life span of materials is much longer, making the cumulative effect of exposure much greater. Conservator Paul Banks points out “these pollutants can irreversibly break down the molecules from which paper, fabrics, and leather derive their mechanical strength.” The Heritage Health Index (HHI) reveals that 47 percent of institutions report damage from airborne particulates or pollutants.

With the added effects of global warming, the damage to collections from air pollution is likely to increase. For example, according to the report “Heat Advisory: How Global Warming Causes More Bad Air Days” by Daniel Lashof and others, ozone levels are more sensitive to temperature and weather than other air pollutants since their chemical precursors—NOx and VOCs—require reaction with heat and ultraviolet light to form. As the number of hot days rises, the levels of ozone pollution will also rise. This bodes ill for human health but more so for library collections, which cannot recover single-handedly and may lack protection.

Another hazard, water, may be one of the most insidious and relentless sources of trouble for preservation librarians. No stranger to water disasters, the preservation community was galvanized and solidified in reaction to the 1966 flooding of the Arno River in Florence, Italy. An estimated 80,000 pre-1840 volumes and 350,000 post-1840 volumes were seriously damaged in that flood, and preservation efforts went on for years.

There have been many technical advances in preservation science in the 40 years since the Florence flood, plus a growing emphasis on disaster preparedness. However, catastrophic water events still take their toll. In August 2002, Prague experienced the worst flooding in 500 years. “Throughout the entire Czech Republic more than 40 libraries were flooded, including 14 major research libraries. More than 800,000 books were destroyed, and damages were estimated at up to $11 million for the National Library and up to $1.5 million for the Municipal Library of Prague,” Yale catalog librarian Emily Ray wrote in her report on the floods.

With flooding related to global warming, rising sea levels and heavy rains will be much more common. According to the Center for Integrative Environmental Research, 53 percent of all Americans live in or near coastal towns. These communities and the local institutions that serve them are in the direct path of increasingly relentless water problems. These can occur rapidly or slowly. Some regions will experience effects of larger, global processes sooner than others. No matter what the timing, libraries can expect to deal with more water issues, more often, as climate change continues.

The influence of extreme weather and hurricanes is another factor librarians must watch. While an increase in the frequency of storms has not been confirmed, IPCC scientists predict “future tropical cyclones (typhoons and hurricanes) will become more intense, with larger peak wind speeds and more heavy precipitation.”

In 2005, the United States saw the destruction caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The damage, which included libraries, was catastrophic and widespread. “Of the 188 public libraries in Louisiana, 23 were destroyed, 33 suffered severe damage, and 37 more had moderate damage. Damage to the New Orleans Public Library system alone is estimated at $26 to $30 million,” reported Tom Clareson and Jane Long in American Libraries in 2006. Recovering from such disasters is a long and difficult process, not only for libraries but also for the entire community. The dramatic impact of extreme weather—perhaps more than any other global warming effect—focuses attention on the severe and overwhelming devastation that will only increase with further climate change.

Libraries have a role whenever humans are affected by climate change in the form of heat waves, decreased air quality, and extreme weather. “The library became a community place...a refuge for all people just to come in and get cooled off, read, and use the coffee shop. It provided a little normality in a very abnormal time,” wrote Tom Diamond after Katrina. That experience was widespread, according to Mitch Landrieu, lieutenant governor of Louisiana and LJ 2008 Politician of the Year. Librarians must plan to meet the challenge of fulfilling the role of libraries as places of sanctuary and information during times of crisis.

To deal with the short and long-term stresses of climate change, librarians can employ two strategies. The first is defensive and goes hand in hand with disaster planning, i.e., how to anticipate and prepare for the effects that will have an impact on their holdings. The second explores what can be done to lessen each library's contribution to the accumulation of greenhouse gases with concrete prevention and mitigation steps.

Historically, libraries have been unprepared for disasters and the recovery process. According to the HHI report, 80 percent of collecting institutions don't have an emergency or disaster plan that includes collections, with staff trained to carry it out, leaving more than 2.6 billion items at risk. The need for continuity planning, to be prepared for a disaster and to continue service afterward, is now recognized, if not widely practiced (see Raya Kuzyk's “Serving Through Disaster,” LJ 3/15/07, p. 26–29).

Climate change disruptions add to this responsibility of preparedness. The University College of London's Centre for Sustainable Heritage, a group engaged in evidence-based research on heritage protection, observes, “Climate change often highlights long standing preservation issues, rather than discovering new problems.” The HHI uncovered many existing preservation concerns. For example, 59 percent of institutions have had their collections damaged by light, 53 percent by water or moisture, and 47 percent by airborne pollutants. About 40 percent of libraries have no environmental controls at all. In other words, most libraries face an awful vulnerability that will become worse as the effects of climate change begin to grow.

There are many excellent resources available to assist libraries with creating disaster preparedness and business continuity plans. The first priority is to have a carefully thought-out and well-rehearsed plan tailored to the needs of the library. To help basic planning begin to address environmental issues, consideration of the specific regional and geographic peculiarities for the library should be discussed. For example, is the library located along a river that floods? Is it in an area frequented by tropical storms? Which of these geographic vulnerabilities is likely to increase because of climate change? Awareness of climate change as an issue, and the willingness to integrate it into the decision-making process is an important step. Incorporating these problems into the general preservation and disaster preparedness discussion helps the library make a strategic investment in its future and provides a model of the foresight, planning, and vigilance their communities need.

In addition to defensive preparations for climate change, there are many opportunities for librarians to take the offensive. Fossil fuels are a primary contributor to global warming. One way to reduce greenhouse gasses added to the atmosphere is to reduce resource consumption while also reusing and recycling. Among many steps libraries can take, the following examples offer immediate rewards by lowering energy costs and expenditures for supplies:

• Purchase computers and other electronics that have earned the Energy Star qualification. These products meet strict energy efficient guidelines set by the EPA and Department of Energy.
• Electronic devices should be set to go to energy-saving sleep modes during periods of inactivity during the day and turned off overnight. To decrease standby energy consumption of these appliances during closed hours, either unplug them or use a power strip to turn them off as a group.
• Use compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) instead of regular lightbulbs. A CFL costs more than a standard bulb but can save you $30–$60 during its lifetime, and each bulb keeps a ton of global warming pollution out of the air, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). There are CFLs available that provide full-spectrum light with no more ultraviolet rays than incandescent bulbs. All CFLs produce less heat.

Vehicles are another source of potential energy savings.

• Make sure vehicles purchased for the library's fleet are as energy efficient as possible.
  Discourage unnecessary idling of vehicles.
• Make regular maintenance a priority. Properly inflated tires and clean air filters have an impact on the fuel efficiency of a vehicle.
• Consider the advantages of telephone or video meetings and conferences. Not only will this save energy, but the reduced time and costs of travel will yield economic savings.
• Look into telecommuting and alternative work schedules as a viable option for some employees.
• Buy fewer disposable and more reusable and/or durable items for the library.
• Make recycling a priority. Set up regular recycling bins for glass, aluminum, plastic, and paper. Research options for recycling old electronic equipment and electronic media (VHS, CDs, etc.). Watch for e-waste recycling events set up by local government. Many corporations also have programs to recycle used printer cartridges and computers. Check with your vendors to see what they have in place.
• When selecting paper products, seek out copy paper, paper towels, toilet paper, and coffee filters that are unbleached and have the highest level of postconsumer content possible.
• Practice paper conservation by using double-sided and on-demand printing. The economic savings as well as the environmental savings can be huge.
• Examine the amount of packaging being used in interlibrary loan and from vendors. Look for ways to reduce packaging or make these processes more efficient such as shipping or ordering in bulk.
• Encourage patrons to bring cloth bags to the library instead of giving out plastic bags.

A most effective way to conserve energy is to take a close look at the library building. About 43 percent of CO₂ emissions in the United States result from energy services—such as heating, cooling, ventilation, and hot water—according to Marilyn Brown and her colleagues in Towards a Climate-Friendly Built Environment. To make building facilities more efficient, perform an energy audit to discover how much energy is consumed, where the building may be losing energy, and the effectiveness of heating and cooling systems. The results could point out some simple fixes—such as cleaning or replacing filters, better insulation, and energy-efficient windows—that can translate to increased energy efficiency and financial savings.

If the library is planning a renovation or new building project, consider sustainable building options. Green libraries have already been built in many U.S. communities. They combine the needs of a library, sustainable design, and real cost savings in energy consumption.

The aim of green building is to develop and use sustainable and energy-efficient resources in the construction, maintenance, and long-term life of a structure. Many libraries considering green design look to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program for guidance.

Green libraries take advantage of building position and natural light and use occupancy sensors for lighting, waterless urinals, and metered faucets. Many work with environmentally friendly paints and solvents, materials (such as carpets) with low-VOC content, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)–certified wood, and local or recycled building supplies. Green libraries also aim to be located on mass transportation routes, collect rainwater for some uses, install special windows, and recycle demolition and construction waste. A geothermal system, which uses the earth's constant temperature below the frost line to heat and cool, can save heating costs while being ecofriendly. (For much more on green design in libraries, see Library by Design, an LJ supplement.)

Solutions and actions to meet the coming challenge of climate change are within reach for librarians. A thorough and well-rehearsed disaster plan is vital. Proactive measures to conserve energy and resources can be accomplished on a small or large scale. Going green often reduces costs while benefiting the environment. There are ways every library can participate. Every action a librarian takes today to defend collections from global warming is a critical step in preserving the human record for future generations.