Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Going Green at the Library

Yesterday a patron came up to the Reference Desk and asked if we had a "green section," meaning books about going green. The library does own books that fit that description, but they are not all in one place, as so often happens in libraries to the frustration of patrons. Green Living for Dummies (c.2008) would be on the New Books shelf with the Dewey number 333.72 JEF, if it weren't checked out. Good Green Kitchens (c. 2006) would be in the regular stacks located at 643.3 ROB, if it weren't checked out. Green Babies, Sage Moms can be found at PAR 649.1 FAS which means it is downstairs in the Parenting Collection in the Children's Room.
Green books are scattered throughout the library classified under various subjects. What the Reference Librarians can do to help pull related titles together is print out a list of BHPL books on the subject the patron wants to explore. These lists show the title, author, call number, location and availability of each book and are very handy for research or for putting holds on books for future use.
Other green resources:
  • The Green Guide website from National Geographic
  • Magazines subscribed to by BHPL: Environment; Natural Home; OG, Organic Gardening.
  • On the New Books shelves at BHPL: How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint; Living Like Ed; The Rough Guide to Shopping with Conscience
  • Many books in the non-fiction stacks, search for "green movement," "green products," "environmental responsibility."

No comments: