Sustainable Buildings | Libraries and Positive Climate Action

This event, originally titled 'Libraries and Positive Climate Action: Sustainable Buildings', took place on 21 November 2023. The information below is correct as of the publication date.

International library leaders discuss their experiences of creating more sustainable buildings in an effort to address climate challenges.

The British Library is hosting a series of webinars focused on libraries and the climate crisis. The aim of the series is to bring together international library leaders to share their different responses to the climate emergency.

This webinar focuses on the work libraries across the world are doing to make their buildings sustainable and carbon neutral. This session will explore examples of best practice worldwide – from new buildings, retrofits of historic buildings to innovative ways to reduce energy and water usage. We will also touch on the issues of the broader sustainability of library design, operations and procurement.

The speakers for this event include:

Gwen Chong is currently the Senior Project Manager (Library Design) at National Library Board Singapore, and a member of the Experience Design team. Her work focuses on the project management, design and planning of library development projects. She has worked on the revamp of Choa Chu Kang Public Library, which is designed to promote the concept of nature and sustainable living, with pilot features such as Green Grove, AR Interactives, Hydroponic Showcase and Community Wall. The revamped library won the IFLA Best Green Library award in 2022. Previously, Gwen’s primary practice was in Communication Design, having worked for local and global design consultancies and education institutes.

Catherine Ross is the Sustainability Manager at the British Library. Her role primarily focusses on reducing the environmental impact of the Library’s own operations, including seeking ways to achieve Net Zero Carbon. Catherine joined the Library from the Church of England’s national Environment Programme, where she led much of their work towards Net Zero Carbon.

Marika Behr is the Director, Building Futures, National Library of Australia. Marika’s role includes delivery of the new building master plan, the update of the environmental management system and action plan and heritage advisory on proposed works. Her background also includes experience working in Kakadu National Park, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and Old Parliament House. Marika has worked for a variety of agencies and spent 6 years in the Infrastructure Division of the Department of Defence working on Australian Commonwealth heritage places. Her roles and skillset have helped deliver infrastructure works programs which ensure buildings continue to be fit for purpose whilst preserving their heritage values and community significance.

Nicki Smith is the Assistant Director of Collection Care at the National Library of Australia, which is a team responsible for conserving the Library’s physical collection and applying strategic preventive approaches to mitigate risks to the collection. Nicki has over 25 years of experience working in state and national collecting institutions across a range of collection material and access approaches. Over the last 10 years, she has focused on sustainable collection practices including passive collection storage, broadening environmental display parameters for collection and risk based pragmatic lighting guidelines for display of collection material.

Professor Ola Uduku is a British African architect and Head of School of Architecture, Roscoe Chair of Architecture at the University of Liverpool and member of the Nigerian Institute of Architects and the Royal Institute of British Architects. Her research considers educational architecture in Africa. Ola is a founding member of ArchiAfrika, a nonprofit organisation which aims to improve contemporary architectural history in Africa and is committed to developing international research collaborations and ensuring issues of diversity and inclusion are intertwined in all aspects of teaching and research. She previously served as Associate Professor in Achitecture and Dean for Africa at the University of Edinburgh and as Professor of Architecture at the Manchester School of Architecture.

The session is chaired by Maja Maricevic, Chair of the UK Green Libraries Partnership. Maja Maricevic is Director of Science and Innovation at the British Library. Maja is particularly interested in the big challenges of our time, such as the continuing digital transformation and climate change. Maja chairs the UK Green Libraries Campaign, a partnership of UK libraries working towards a better future for planet and people. Maja is an Advisory Board Member for the UK Research and Innovation programme Building a Greener Future. She is also a Board member of London’s Knowledge Quarter. She has previously worked in universities, government departments and as a professional consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers.