Purpose

This research aims to investigate effective public library environmental education interventions in order to inform the development of a framework for public libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research method was developed incorporating surveys and follow-up interviews with librarians working in USA public libraries, who were known to have been involved in environmental education initiatives.

Findings

The research determined which environmental education interventions were most likely to lead to action and behaviour change in public library users. The resulting discussion has allowed for the creation of a framework which establishes factors useful for successful implementation of environmental education programmes and activities. These elements include partnership, institutional commitment, inclusion and outreach and practical activities linked to a larger vision.

Research limitations/implications

The research participants were limited to those libraries in the USA which were all affiliated with the American Library Association (ALA) Resilient Communities programmes and had received grants.

Practical implications

The paper concludes with a framework for implementing environmental education programmes in public libraries. Effective interventions are also shared which provide practical ideas and strategies.

Social implications

Providing structure and considerations for establishing an environmental programme enables libraries to build on experiences of other libraries. As climate change action becomes a more pressing issue, providing these interventions supports action.

Originality/value

The paper discusses the concepts of environmental education and the role which public libraries can play in this arena, concluding that sustainable development should be treated as a new tenet of librarianship and environmental education as a new research field of library and information science.

中文翻译：

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公共图书馆的环境教育

目的

本研究旨在调查有效的公共图书馆环境教育干预措施，以便为公共图书馆框架的发展提供信息。

设计/方法/途径

开发了一种定性研究方法，包括对在美国公共图书馆工作的图书管理员进行的调查和后续访谈，众所周知，这些图书管理员参与了环境教育计划。

发现

该研究确定了哪些环境教育干预最有可能导致公共图书馆用户的行动和行为改变。由此产生的讨论允许创建一个框架，该框架确定了对成功实施环境教育计划和活动有用的因素。这些要素包括伙伴关系、机构承诺、包容和外展以及与更大愿景相关的实际活动。

研究局限性/影响

研究参与者仅限于美国的那些图书馆，这些图书馆都隶属于美国图书馆协会 (ALA) 的弹性社区计划并获得了资助。

实际影响

本文最后提出了在公共图书馆实施环境教育计划的框架。还分享了有效的干预措施，提供了实用的想法和策略。

社会影响

为建立环境计划提供结构和注意事项，使图书馆能够借鉴其他图书馆的经验。随着气候变化行动成为一个更加紧迫的问题，提供这些干预措施可以支持行动。

原创性/价值

本文讨论了环境教育的概念和公共图书馆在这一领域可以发挥的作用，认为可持续发展应作为图书馆事业的新宗旨，环境教育应作为图书馆情报学的新研究领域。