Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 54.99
Liaison Denice Koljonen
Submission Date Feb. 6, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Boston College
IN-24: Innovation A

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Steve Runge
Learning Commons Manager
University Libraries
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Boston College Libraries Staff Initiative: BC Greener Lib

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:
BC Greener Lib is a group of library staff focused on sustainability education and support through a variety of efforts. Initiated ten years ago (2008) as a grass-roots staff effort, BC Greener Lib is recognized by library administration as a formal committee. These efforts and outcome include: Campus-Wide Events (advertised to campus through Sustain-BC listserv) • Green Films Series, including an annual summer "green" film series (typically three films) and other films shown during the academic year (ex: This Changes Everything, Merchants of Doubt, The TransparentSea, Carbon Nation, Fresh, etc.) • Brownbag talks about important environmental topics (for example: sustainable agricultural practices (faculty-led), wind-power (Cape Wind book discussion), green buildings, the psychological issues making adoption of greener practices difficult (faculty-led), sustainability in the academy (faculty-led), Copenhagen Climate Change Convention, etc. • Annual "green books" display during BC Green Week/Month • Participation in campus green fairs Library-Wide Events (130 library staff members) • Annual vegetarian harvest potluck event -- a chance to build community and highlight the environmental (and health) benefits of vegetarian/plant-based eating; note: we partner with Dining Services to use their re-usable plates, silverware, etc. • Annual sustainable soup lunch – staff potluck focused on vegetarian and sustainable meat BC Greener Lib affords interested, committed staff the opportunity to reach out into the campus community and leverage the role of the Library as a unique, neutral place on campus, perfectly positioned for education and engagement of users on the topic of sustainability in all of its dimensions, from individual choices to research across the disciplines. The BC Libraries research collections and liaison librarian efforts further ensure that library resources are there to support sustainability efforts and interests when users do engage.

Which of the following impact areas does the innovation most closely relate to? (select up to three):
Curriculum
Campus Engagement
Wellbeing & Work

A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
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The website URL where information about the innovation is available :
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Please note that the (real) BC Greener Lib website is located behind a library staff firewall; events are advertised via campus listserv and library website news items (ephemeral). Attached is a Word document that shows some additional information.

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.