LJ's Green Design InstituteStrikesa Chord in Connecticut

Francine Fialkoff -- Library Journal, 12/15/2008

• Green-themed presentations, panels, displays
• Architect-led breakout sessions
• Co-hosted by Connecticut State Library and Connecticut Library Consortium

Hard times or not, concerns about reducing the energy and space footprint of library buildings and making them sustainable remain central to libraries. Under the auspices of the Connecticut State Library and Connecticut Library Consortium, Library Journal's Going Green seminar moved to the State Capitol in Hartford, CT, where some 150 librarians, architects, and product vendors gathered to discuss and plan sustainable libraries. As Darien Library director Louise Berry noted, despite the economic downturn, now may be the perfect time to start thinking about that new library, given the eight-to-ten year timeline for funding, planning, and building the new Darien Library, scheduled to open next month. That library is the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold library  in New England. And it's never too soon to think about green renovation or retrofitting, especially in New England, where, said MS&R's Sean Wagner, the building structure is so intrinsic to "the social and cultural foundation" of the region. 

In two panels, architects and librarians addressed the educational potential of green libraries, the process of going green, including getting funders on board, the much quicker payback for going green, and the types of grants available. While there are still some reservations about LEED certfication because of its administrative costs, MS&R's Wagner praised LEED, saying that it "was the beginning of the transformation process for the architectural community." Nevertheless, architects pointed out that while LEED can be a great fundraising tool, green design is as effective with or without LEED. "In Ossining (NY), we went for LEED, in Greenburgh (NY) we did not, but both used green design as part of their campaign to get funded," said architect Todd Harvey (Beatty, Harvey & Associates). "Both libraries are similarly green," said Harvey, and both are equally "happy" with their results. 

Education is key
Much of the focus was on community education. "Libraries can transform society," the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund's Bob Wall said in a luncheon speech. "Let people know what you're doing and why," JCJ architect and panelist Barbara Joslin told listeners. Other suggestions included having energy audits not just for the library, but for patrons to do themselves, and lending energy meters. "If you have a sustainable building, people should see how it works," said Peter Gisolfi (Peter Gisolfi Associates). "Then they can think, 'Could this work in my house?'" "What's the next big thing?" asked Connecticut State Librarian Kendall Wiggins, a panel moderator. "Wind," said JCJ's Joslin. And Gisolfi said, "We don't have to think we're building for 40 years...but for 500. In the next decade or so, we'll be building libraries that are energy neutral."

In addition to the panels, librarians, trustees, and others also participated in breakout sessions focusing on design "challenges" submitted by attendees. Each session was led by a different architectural firm and incorporated sustainable solutions. Granby PL, CT, wanted to renovate and expand its current facility (photo at right, with Peter Gisolfi). Gwinnett County PL, GA (photo top right, with PSA-Dewberry's Denelle Wrightson), and Hauppauge PL, NY, faced the happy prospect of building anew. Kingsport PL, TN (photo, left, with MS&R's Jeff Scherer), and Norfolk PL, VA, were grappling with linking an old and new (or newer) structures while retaining period architecture. And Salve Regina University's McKillop Library (RI) aimed to convert a second-floor space into a teaching and learning center for faculty.

The free, day-long program was made possible by the support of architectural firms and product vendors. Among the sponsors were Beatty, Harvey & Associates, JCJ Architecture, Meyer, Scherer and Rockcastle, Ltd., Peter Gisolfi Associates, PSA-Dewberry, and Tappé Associates. Attendees also were presented with green options for furniture (Agati Furniture, Brodart Contract Furniture, and David Edward), interiors (DEMCO Library Interiors), lighting (LucaLight), materials handling (EnvisionWare), and digital imaging (S-T Imaging). A complete list of sponsors, presenters, panelists, videos of the event, and green resources can be found at LibraryJournal.com/dieast.