Zsolt Dubniczky

With the freshwater supply being constant, the increase in population and in the amount of water used, as well as desertification caused by climate change, humanity is warned to manage the available water resources responsibly: to satisfy its needs but to avoid wasting resources. All this is included in the idea of sustainability, to which Hungary had committed itself. At the same time, sustainability constitutes a characteristic feature of green library practices aimed at minimizing negative environmental impacts. Water management is not the main area where libraries can reduce their burden on the environment. It is, however, an area in the institution’s operation, that offers other possibilities – in addition to eliminating dripping water taps –, to serve environmental awareness and sustainability which is a global challenge today, and to take responsible action. The possibilities include green roof solutions, designing the building's environment to help to save water, as well...

Sustainability and green thinking have become an issue of general interest by our days, and these efforts constitute a major task and responsibility for institutions mediating information. In the future, those libraries will succeed which correspond to human ecological considerations as well, are environmentally conscious, and prefer sustainable thinking. Institutions in favour of this principle and spirit are called green libraries. They are built according to the certification standards on green buildings on the one hand, and incorporate sustainability and human ecological approach into their operations, on the other. To be qualified as a green library several criteria have to be met; these relate to the institution, its building, location, collection, vision and services. If only part of these criteria can be integrated into the everyday life of the institution, the term „a library of green nature” is justified. In addition, there is a difference between a newly built library’s g...