Adoption of green initiatives by Libraries in Kenya for Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

Global environmental concerns have seen a rise in go-green campaigns and a go-green movement, along with solutions and calls for consumers, corporations, and governments to be more proactive in going green in every aspect. Yet, despite these ‘go-green’ campaigns, little is known about the green library concept in the African context, Kenyan libraries included. Subsequently, this study was undertaken to explore the adoption of green library concepts in Kenya for environmental sustainability with a view to proposing strategies that can be used to guide libraries in the going green transformation. The objectives of the study included: establishing the comprehension and perception of Kenyan librarians towards the concept of greening libraries for environmental sustainability; analyzing the greening methods/practices adopted by Kenyan libraries; determining the factors driving and impeding libraries’ embracement and implementation of the green concept and proposing strategies to guide libraries in transforming to ‘green libraries’. The study was informed by the Norm activation model to account for perceptions on embracing and implementing the going green concept; Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory of Pro-Environmental Behavior to inform factors driving environmental sustainability in Kenyan libraries, and the USGBC LEED standards that explained the best practice in going green and strategies applicable in green initiatives. The study adopted a qualitative approach and a descriptive research design. A sample of twelve libraries was purposively drawn from a population of 227 academic, public and special libraries in Kenya. Data was collected using semi-structured interview schedules complemented by observation and document review and analyzed using grounded theory. The findings showed that libraries in Kenya, under their umbrella organizations, have taken advantage of their knowledge of greening concepts through adopting greening practices and coming up with strategies to enhance green libraries and promote environmental sustainability. Strategies implemented and adopted to enhance green libraries and promote environmental sustainability include redesigning and renovating of library structures and facilities to meet the ever-changing user demands in line with the green library standards Therefore, this study concludes that the absence of notable green library initiatives in most of Kenyan libraries is a multiple factor of inadequate knowledge and appreciation of libraries role in environmental sustainability on one hand and, slow and possibly reluctance in adopting and implementing green libraries initiatives. Librarians in the Kenyan libraries are aware of and understand the green building concepts and have embraced and adopted different green initiatives, albeit partially. Three strategies as recommendations for fully going green are proposed: active user involvement in green initiatives, improving performance and growth measuring metrics, and maintaining green library standards as guided by the IFLA ENSULIB green library checklist.