Introduction

What is a Green Library?

„A green and sustainable library is a library which takes into account environmental, economic and social sustainability."

(source: https://www.ifla.org/g/environment-sustainability-and-libraries/ifla-green-library-definition/ 

A Green Library is not just a building, an institution or a library collection, but also an approach and a service. The library has the potential to be a forward-looking community and social model for society, and therefore an active community-building and community-development role is an essential element of library sustainability in the 21st century.

SZE ULA's efforts to promote sustainable development are closely linked to:

• the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• IFLA's (International Federation of Library Associations and Organisations) support programme (Section Environment, Sustainability and Libraries)
• the Sustainability Strategy of Széchenyi István University

SZE-ULA's Green Library Strategy:

We strive for full adoption of the green library approach in all our member libraries. We are committed to the full implementation of energy efficiency and sustainability principles in all our libraries.  We focus on the more economical and environmentally conscious operation of our buildings. We aim to organise activities, programmes and services that highlight the social role and responsibility of our library in promoting environmental sustainability.

Green Library Initiative

Green Libraries Manifesto

• A declaration of commitment by library organisations to promote environmental protection and sustainability.
• Its aim is to coordinate the activities of libraries and help them to take environmentally friendly measures, offer information and programmes to the community on sustainability and environmental protection.

Green Library Award

• The International Federation of Library Associations and Organisations (IFLA) Environment, Sustainability and Special Interest Group for Libraries (ENSULIB) is pleased to announce the following
• The award is given to a library or library organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to environmental protection, sustainability or other green initiatives through its innovative solutions

Our green library tasks and achievements

In 2023, we established the Green Library Task Force.

Its members are Péter Hegedüs, Beáta Keséné Bohácsi, Mária Nagy, Márta Németh, Dorottya Perjés, Csilla Tóth.

Energy saving:

• Optimising the use of central lighting
• Optimising the use of table lamps

Recycling:

• Book and periodical fairs to offer for sale periodicals and books withdrawn from the library collection.
• One ideal way to reduce waste is to refurbish our old furniture and chairs, which has already been done in the Central Library, the  Faculty Library of Law and the Library of Faculty of Apáczai.

Selective waste collection:

• In the framework of the Circular Living Concept project, we have placed selective waste bins in all the member libraries of the ULA, thus promoting conscious waste management. Containers for used batteries and light sources are in the faculty buildings.
• We are participating in the “Pass Back Your Brother” campaign, an initiative of the Jane Godall Institute to collect used mobile phones to promote the recycling of the precious metals they contain.

Biodiversity conservation:

• Placing bird feeders: we have put out bird feeders made with children, which are constantly replenished with bird food by our staff.
• Tree planting: we strive to plant trees on the University and faculty grounds in cooperation with the University, through grants or in partnership with NGO's.

Green office:

• Paper saving: we are constantly digitising our library and archive collections to optimise paper use.
• Use of environmentally friendly cleaning products.
• Ergonomic furniture: new comfortable chairs have been installed in the reading areas and our colleagues have been provided with new ergonomic office chairs.
• Greening of the working environment.
• Together with colleagues, we planted flowers, changed honeysuckle, tended, and watered the flowers.
• Litter picking in front of the library building.

User- and family-friendly library spaces and services

• SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) escape room. A thematic escape room - "RePlayMe" - was created in the basement of the Central Library with funding from the UN's sustainability programme.
• Sports facilities: indoor bikes.
• Relax room: creation of a relaxation room, a quiet room for students and staff to recharge, relax, do yoga and recreation.
• Stress - Wall: in 2020, we have created a stress wall on the ground floor of our Central Library, where there is an opportunity to release tension with adult colouring pages.

Our green programmes and events

We strive to use environmentally friendly products and equipment in our programmes.

• Book us! Children's University:
• Summer activities and lectures for children of university staff on sustainability and the environment:
• Learning about plants in the Botanic Garden in Bácsa
• Activities in the School Garden of the Faculty of Apáczai and in the Community Garden of Győr-Ménfőcsanak, organised by the Muszáj Association
• A series of lectures on birds, dinosaurs and water.
• Organisation of lectures on environmental awareness and sustainability
• On 18 October, the opening lecture of the campaign "Pass it back, brother!" was held in the Library of the Faculty of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences of the Faculty of Social Sciences.
• Exhibitions.

Organisation of regular and temporary exhibitions in the library premises to mark anniversaries and events:

• From 14 to 28 April 2023, the Central Library hosted the TRASH ART sculpture exhibition. The exhibition was part of a joint project between Széchenyi István University and HybridCycle Circular Living Concept (CLC).
• From 30.05.2023 to 16.16.2023, our library hosted the group exhibition TRASH OR TREASURE - Second Life.

Social responsibility

Széchenyi University is committed to ensuring equal opportunities, keeping in mind the built environment and the aspects of info communication accessibility. All our member libraries are accessible. We provide special services (reading software, accessible website) for visually impaired library users.

Social mission

Set up a collection point to collect donations for the needy.

World Green Days - Significant Environment Days

For more information: HUNGARIAN LINKS are available on the Hungarian website

GALERY