Green library

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:

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  • Book and periodical fairs to offer for sale periodicals and books withdrawn from the library collection.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 Apáczai Csere János Faculty 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 Apáczai Csere János Faculty.
    • 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

1st February

DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR THE WILDLIFE OF THE TISZA

2nd February

WORLD WETLANDS DAY

1st March

NEWSPAPER DAY - humusz.hu

3rd March

WORLD WILDLIFE DAY

6th March

INTERNATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY DAY

10th March

BEE'S DAY - Hungarian civil initiative

15th March

INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST SEAL HUNTING

18th March

WORLD RECYCLING DAY

20th March

HUNGARIAN FISH DAY

20th March

WORLD SPARROW DAY

21st March

WORLD FORESTS DAY

22nd March

WORLD WATER DAY

23rd March

WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY

3-4th Saturday March

THE EARTH HOUR DAY

14th April

WORLD ANTI-DAM DAY

18th April

WORLD HERITAGE DAY

22nd April

DAY OF THE EARTH

last Wednesday in April

WORLD DAY AGAINST NOISE

30th April

HUNGARIAN NATIONAL DAY OF THE BEES

2nd Saturday May

WORLD FAIR TRADE DAY

10th May

BIRDS AND TREES DAY

15th May

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

20th May

WORLD BEE DAY

22nd May

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIODIVERSITY

22nd May

HUNGARIAN NATURE DAY

24th May

EUROPEAN NATIONAL PARKS DAY

31st May

WORLD DAY AGAINST SMOKING

5th June

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

8th June

WORLD OCEANS DAY

17th June

COMBATING DESERTIFICATION AND DROUGHT

21st June

DAY OF THE SUN

29th June

INTERNATIONAL DANUBE DAY

whole July

PLASTIC FREE JULY - WORLD CHALLENGE

3rd July

INTERNATIONAL PLASTIC BAG-FREE DAY

11th July

WORLD POPULATION DAY

1st August, variable

GLOBAL OVERCONSUMPTION DAY

30th August

INTERNATIONAL GOURMET KITCHEN DAY

16th September

WORLD OZONE DAY

3rd Saturday September

WORLD CLEANING DAY

16th-22nd September

EUROPEAN CAR-FREE WEEK

22nd September

WORLD CAR-FREE DAY

29th September

WORLD DAY AGAINST FOOD WASTING

30th September

PACKAGING-FREE DAY

whole October

VEGETARIAN MONTH

2nd October

WORLD FARM ANIMAL DAY

4th October

WORLD ANIMAL DAY

first weekend in October

WORLD BIRDWATCHING DAY

10th October

COMPOSTING DAY

16th October

WORLD FOODING DAY

3rd Saturday October

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF REPAIR

21st October

WORLD DAY FOR OUR PLANET

24th October

WORLD CLIMATE DAY

end of October

TV SWITCH-OFF WEEK

8th November

WORLD ANTI-BURNING DAY

last Friday in November

DO NOT BUY ANYTHING DAY

last week in November

EUROPEAN WASTE REDUCTION WEEK

whole December

CELEBRATE IN GREEN

5th December

WORLD SOIL DAY

29th December

WORLD DAY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIODIVERSITY

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

GALERY