Last modified: Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Kathy McCarnes named sustainability officer for IU Bloomington Libraries
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2009
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Patricia Steele, Ruth Lilly Dean of University Libraries, today announced the appointment of Kathy McCarnes as sustainability officer for the Indiana University Bloomington Libraries, in addition to McCarnes' responsibilities as director of business affairs and facilities. In her new role, McCarnes will oversee the IU Bloomington Libraries' sustainability efforts and represent the IU Bloomington Libraries at the campus level.
"This assignment is a natural fit with Kathy's current duties, and I know she will lead us in the right direction," said Steele. "Libraries can clearly play an important role in providing the information resources that lead to a better understanding of sustainability issues. With this appointment we now also demonstrate our commitment to action."
The appointment follows a report on sustainability created by a task force within the IU Bloomington Libraries, which outlined recommendations for advancing the Libraries' sustainability efforts. The task force report, entitled "Greening the Libraries, A Call to Action," recommended the creation of a Libraries Sustainability Officer and administrative committee to oversee a broad range of sustainability efforts by the libraries. The committee's recommendations included new initiatives to support environmental literacy, energy and resource conservation, recycling, environmental quality, and enhanced alternative transportation options for library staff and patrons.
"The IU Bloomington Libraries can play a powerful role in moving the general goals of the campus sustainability into practical implementation," said Michael Hamburger, associate vice provost and co-chair of the IU Task Force on Campus Sustainability. "Because of their prominent role in both the academic and operational realms of our campus, the Libraries can take a leadership position in moving the campus forward to address critical issues of local and global sustainability."
The IU Bloomington Libraries serve students and faculty on the Bloomington campus with a system of libraries and facilities, including the Herman B Wells Library, branch libraries that support departments and subjects, the Lilly Library for rare books and manuscripts, the Ruth Lilly Auxiliary Library Facility, and the Wylie House Museum.
The IU Bloomington Libraries task force report can be viewed at IU's Archives of Institutional Memory: https://institutionalmemory.iu.edu/. Select IU community, then Libraries.
Further information about the campus sustainability effort can be obtained at https://www.indiana.edu/~sustain.
