Background and Objectives: Green Library is a library is to minimize the negative effects on the natural environment and to maximize indoor air quality by choosing exact tools, use of natural materials and dissoluble products, resource conservation (water, energy and paper) and responsibility for recycling waste and garbage (recycling, etc.) (ODLIS). Nowadays, standards, diverse certification issuance systems, different ranking and labeling procedures have been developed which are useable for green libraries as well. However, a proprietary certificate is required. Academic libraries can implement some critical functions such as provide good examples for Green Library, dissemination and publication of this idea among the people, and promote civic engagement in sustainability. This function and impact can range from design space and equipment to library activity management including acquisition, information dissemination and organization. The aim of this study is to adjust a set of criteria for evaluating green features of Academic libraries and provide a guideline for greening libraries.
Methodology: The study was an applied research and was performed by an evaluative survey method to evaluate Iranian Academic Libraries green features by using a questionnaire containing 103 criteria in 7 sections included Building and equipment, Strategic planning and management, Creating motivation, commitment and culture in librarians towards environmental management, collection development, information organization, information dissemination and participation and supporting national and international sustainable development programs. The criteria were gathered by reviewing green buildings standards and literatures such as LEED and green libraries studies, and also through interviews with 12 experts in the field of environment and library science and analyzing their responses. The research population was comprised of the managers of Iranian central academic libraries affiliated to the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education, Iran’s Islamic Azad University and a total of 186 libraries were included. They participated in the research without sampling. To measure the criteria, Likert Spectrum was utilized. Finally, 77.9% of questionnaires) were completed. To analyze the data, descriptive and inferential statistical analysis methods were used in SPSS software. After summing the scores of each library, descriptive statistics indices and condition of the building and equipment in terms of the compliance with green standards were extracted. Also, the hypothesis of comparing the status of the three groups of libraries with statistical-analytical methods was tested.
Findings: The status of the Academic libraries in terms of energy consumption management, green space and water, paper consumption management, waste, transportation management, noise and air management were relatively good. The status of management and planning showed that most of the libraries were in an average condition. In the overall assessment of motivation, commitment and acculturation, the library managers have been somehow successful, and the observance of this criterion by managers was better than average. Most libraries were in an intermediate state in terms of green acquisition and perseveration of library resources. The average state of libraries in terms of disseminating information and raising awareness on environmental issues is not unexpected. In the overall assessment of the participation and support from national and international programs in the sustainable development, the status of this evaluation was on an average level. The results of the hypothesis test showed that there is no difference between the three groups of the central libraries of the universities of the Ministry of Science, Health and the Islamic Azad University in terms of observing these criteria.
Discussion: Green building management instruments are utilized, and library is a suitable instrument as part of a university campus or as an independent building on campus and is relatively in accordance with criteria for green management in the current research. The management of academic libraries is a part of a training institution, and the management and planning in academic universities is subject to academic management policies. And as long as the university has not a green approach to its management, this approach is reflected in library management. Sustainable development and strategic planning in Iranian Academic libraries are a new subject and has a long way to be evolved. The role of management to motivate and engage employees to preserve the environment is significant. The outcome of the assessment of this measure depends on managers’ incentives and commitment, and indicates the significance of this issue from their own perspective. In addition, management and planning trend followed by them positively affects staff. The issue of digital acquisition is a newly emerged one and universities and libraries’ managers are not highly familiar with the importance of the environmental impacts of such measures. The issue of budget and fund in libraries to adopt green policies such as non-application of chemical pesticides or change in resource acquisition processes from printable into digital can be one of the reasons for this issue. Participation and cooperation in environmental protection is one fundamental necessity of sustainable development.