Sustainable libraries: teaching environmental responsibility to communities

This article defines sustainability to include community, economy, and the buildings made in service to those considerations. As gateways for knowledge, libraries are particularly well‐suited as demonstration vehicles. Beneficiaries are determined so that potential sources of funding can be identified. The case study (Oak Park Library, Ventura, California) integrates state‐of‐the‐art energy‐conserving design into a new joint‐use public and high school library. Client review, public presentations, computer modeling, and environmental specifications research led to a design that was awarded nearly $250,000 in construction funding and “buydowns”. Computer‐modeled analyses of the energy‐conserving elements of the Oak Park Library showed reductions in heating, cooling, and electricity consumption when those strategies were implemented. The strategies illustrated include techniques in lighting design, cooling/heating, and construction that can be replicated in new and existing projects to maximize efficiency in high‐visibility community demonstration projects. A listing of additional resources is also included.