Library Sustainability Group

The Library Sustainability Group seeks to heighten staff awareness of the environmental polycrisis and its impact, and to provide a coordinating role for sustainability initiatives and activity across the Library.

Aims and objectives

Our key goals for the period 2026 – 2028 are:

  1. Leadership and Governance
    Integrate sustainability into decision making processes across the Library. 
  2. Student and Staff Engagement
    Raise awareness of existing sustainability initiatives, events and opportunities across the Library and University. 
  3. Student Curriculum and Experience
    Activate Library collections that support engagement with issues related to climate, regeneration and sustainability. 
  4. Research and Partnerships
    Participate in the Sustainable Lab awards (or equivalent) for the Conservation Studio and Culture lab space.
  5. Operations
    Embed resource efficiency and recycling into everyday working practices. 
  6. Community Engagement
    Contribute to departmental Community Plan. 

Membership

Senior Management Team Sponsor: Rebecca Hirsch, Associate Director, Digital Library

Current membership:

  • Amy Cawood, Lothian Health Services Archive Manager, Heritage Collections (group chair)
  • Liv Laumenech, Assistant Art Collections Curator, Heritage Collections
  • Ianthe Sutherland, Development and Systems Manager, Digital Library
  • Laura Cagnazzo, User Support and Service Enhancement Officer, Library Research Support
  • Flora Fisher, Course Collection Assistant, Collections Services
  • Pam Wells, EdHelp Service Delivery Manager, Help Services
  • Anna Richards, Academic Support Librarian
  • Cathlin Macaulay, Scottish Collections Curator, Heritage Collections

Sustainability Framework

We are developing a sustainability framework for the Library that will inform the work of the group. Our work will be informed by the University's regenerative sustainability strategy.

Regenerative Sustainability Strategy

Heritage Collections (HC) Sustainability Group

Established in April 2024, the HC Sustainability Group's vision is 

To make a positive impact through excellence in environmental sustainability, social and civic responsibility. We will ensure that social, ethical and environmental considerations guide the decisions we make around our collections, activities and services, and we will actively support the University’s target to be carbon neutral by 2040. 
 

The group also supports the wider work of the Library Sustainability Group.

The group brings together existing activity relating to environment and sustainability and is made up of staff from across HC teams. 

Current membership: 

  • Alice Austin, Web Archivist
  • Amy Cawood, LHSA Manager
  • Amanda Dodd, Works on Paper Conservator
  • Danielle Howarth, Archive and Library Access manager (SSSA/Digital)
  • Liv Laumenech, Assistant Art Collections Curator
  • Pamela McIntyre, Strategic Projects Archivist
  • Bianca Packham, Engagement Officer (Exhibitions)
  • Katharine Richardson, Senior Collections Manager
  • Sara Thomson, Digital Archivist

This article was published on