A call for libraries to go green. An information behaviour perspective to draw interest from twenty‐first century librarians
| Published date | 31 August 2012 |
| Pages | 428-435 |
| Date | 31 August 2012 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378831211266573 |
| Author | Ina Fourie |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
A call for libraries to go green
An information behaviour perspective to draw
interest from twenty-first century librarians
Ina Fourie
Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria,
South Africa
Abstract
Purpose – When confronted with a problem where the solution is not clear or obvious, a first step
would be to search for more information, trying to make sense of the problem. The intention of this
contribution is to make sense of the call for “libraries to go green”, while at the same time to show the
potential of explicitly considering information behaviour and the need to draw on the full spectrum of
information literacy skills (e.g. recognising and expressing an information need, seeking, using, and
disseminating information) to stimulate librarians’ interest and confidence in taking on the challenge
of going green and making a difference.
Design/methodology/approach – The column will be written against the background of research
from information literacy, information behaviour, and research on sustainable and environmental
friendly library and information (LIS) services.
Findings – Although rather a limited number, publications on “going green” and the “paperless”
library/society address a variety of issues ranging from planning “green” library buildings, to
assessing the experiences of LIS professionals in developing sustainable “green libraries”, to
information behaviour in using e-books in academic contexts. Considering the finding and use of
information on “going green”, from an information behaviour perspective, helps to bring many issues
to consider in furthering research on “going green” to the front.
Originality/value – Although much has been published about informa tion behaviour and
information literacy, and although attempts of publishing on various issues of “green” libraries are
noted, the author is not aware of other work aligning these issues.
Keywords Librarians,Libraries, Library services, Libraryfacilities, Environmental management
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
In the 1970s and 1980s Wilfred Lancaster set the tone for paperless societies from the
perspective of libraries and information services (LIS), especially with a book by that title
(Lancaster, 1978; Lancaster, 1985). In a later book, Indexing and Abstracting: Theory and
Practice, Lancaster (1991, p. 260) took his ideas even further and depicted a model of the
filtering levels in a paperless publishing environment. His earlier work has been available
more than 30 years, and although some progress has been made, we still do not see signs
of such a society. Young (2008) comments on the aftermath of Lancaster’s prediction,
while others seem more sceptic when one judges from the titles of the publications.
McCullen (2011) comments: “Paperless society? What a load of scrap”. McCormack (2011)
expresses doubt on whether paperless library options are even possible, while Smith
(2008) exclaims: “Welcome to my nightmare! The paperless office of 2010”.
For me the title of Lancaster’s (1978) book is the first thing that comes to mind when
hearing the call for “libraries to go green”; “going green” however entails much more –
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
LHT
30,3
428
Received June 2012
Revised June 2012
Accepted June 2012
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 30 No. 3, 2012
pp. 428-435
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378831211266573
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