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11. Urban Gardening, Foodsharing and Makerspaces

Best Practice in the Stadtbibliothek of Bad Oldesloe, Germany
  • Tim Schumann
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Going Green: Implementing Sustainable Strategies in Libraries Around the World
This chapter is in the book Going Green: Implementing Sustainable Strategies in Libraries Around the World

Abstract

Public libraries in Germany are currently under pressure, with many closures recently due to reduced municipal budgets. Public libraries hence need to demonstrate relevance to their communities, sponsors and other accountable bodies to avoid the continuance of this trend. This paper shows how libraries can link into debates in society and politics by adopting the urban gardening trend as well as developing new services around this green movement. Within the debate on public libraries’ transformation, urban gardening and the idea of the green library provide an opportunity to develop new green and sustainable library services. By combining makerspaces and community building with urban gardening and foodsharing, the public library of Bad Oldesloe developed a series of events that turned the library into a modern and creative learning space. At the same time, the library offered its physical space as a community platform for networking, cooperation and creativity.

Abstract

Public libraries in Germany are currently under pressure, with many closures recently due to reduced municipal budgets. Public libraries hence need to demonstrate relevance to their communities, sponsors and other accountable bodies to avoid the continuance of this trend. This paper shows how libraries can link into debates in society and politics by adopting the urban gardening trend as well as developing new services around this green movement. Within the debate on public libraries’ transformation, urban gardening and the idea of the green library provide an opportunity to develop new green and sustainable library services. By combining makerspaces and community building with urban gardening and foodsharing, the public library of Bad Oldesloe developed a series of events that turned the library into a modern and creative learning space. At the same time, the library offered its physical space as a community platform for networking, cooperation and creativity.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. About IFLA IX
  4. Preface 1
  5. Part 1: General
  6. 1. A Garden on the Roof Doesn’t Make a Library Green 5
  7. 2. Libraries Sow the Seed of a Sustainable Society 22
  8. 3. Contemplative Pedagogy 32
  9. 4. Public Libraries’ Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals 46
  10. 5. Environmental Responsibility in Brazilian Libraries 60
  11. Part 2: Public Libraries
  12. 6. The Green Corner at Vaggeryd Public Library 77
  13. 7. Action to Combat Climate Change and its Impact 86
  14. 8. The BookboXX 94
  15. 9. Garbage Hero 103
  16. 10. From a Green Library to a Sustainable Library 110
  17. 11. Urban Gardening, Foodsharing and Makerspaces 122
  18. 12. Green Library of the Neighbourhood 135
  19. 13. The Green Story of the Public Library Užice, Serbia 142
  20. Part 3: Academic Libraries
  21. 14. More Than Just a Green Building 155
  22. 15. The Awareness of Young African Students to Protection of the Environment 173
  23. 16. Challenges and Opportunities in Implementing a Sustainable Approach at Academic Libraries 181
  24. 17. Information Dissemination is Not Enough 197
  25. 18. Going Green to Embrace Aesthetic Reflections and Sustainable Library Buildings 210
  26. Appendix
  27. Abbreviations 229
  28. Contributors 232
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110608878-013

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. About IFLA IX
  4. Preface 1
  5. Part 1: General
  6. 1. A Garden on the Roof Doesn’t Make a Library Green 5
  7. 2. Libraries Sow the Seed of a Sustainable Society 22
  8. 3. Contemplative Pedagogy 32
  9. 4. Public Libraries’ Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals 46
  10. 5. Environmental Responsibility in Brazilian Libraries 60
  11. Part 2: Public Libraries
  12. 6. The Green Corner at Vaggeryd Public Library 77
  13. 7. Action to Combat Climate Change and its Impact 86
  14. 8. The BookboXX 94
  15. 9. Garbage Hero 103
  16. 10. From a Green Library to a Sustainable Library 110
  17. 11. Urban Gardening, Foodsharing and Makerspaces 122
  18. 12. Green Library of the Neighbourhood 135
  19. 13. The Green Story of the Public Library Užice, Serbia 142
  20. Part 3: Academic Libraries
  21. 14. More Than Just a Green Building 155
  22. 15. The Awareness of Young African Students to Protection of the Environment 173
  23. 16. Challenges and Opportunities in Implementing a Sustainable Approach at Academic Libraries 181
  24. 17. Information Dissemination is Not Enough 197
  25. 18. Going Green to Embrace Aesthetic Reflections and Sustainable Library Buildings 210
  26. Appendix
  27. Abbreviations 229
  28. Contributors 232
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