Green Space Development in Academic Libraries: A Case Study in Hong Kong

Literature Review

The green library, also known as sustainable library, is “a library designed to minimize the negative impact on the natural environment and maximize indoor environmental quality through careful site selection, use of natural construction materials and biodegradable products, conservation of resources (water, energy, paper), and responsible waste disposal (recycling, etc.)” (Reitz, 1996). Some key terms are first clarified to facilitate subsequent discussions.

Green, is a concept “related to the protection of the environment,” with other synonyms, including environmentally friendly and sustainability. The term “go green” means “to do more to protect nature and the environment” (Cambridge University, 2017). Green development refers to urban development approaches and practices that reduce negative impacts or ideally produce net positive effects on the environment and nearby ecosystems (City of Burnaby, n.d.).