Sustainability

A Partnership to a Better Climate.

This year, ALA adopted Sustainability as a core value of librarianship. A commitment that holds "to be truly sustainable, an organization or community must embody practices that are environmentally sound, economically feasible, and socially equitable."

In support of ALA’s leadership on sustainability efforts, the 2020 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia incorporates a "Reduce, Repurpose, Recycle" project to promote environmentally conscious policies focused on resource conservation and sustainable business practices.

ALA's Commitment to Sustainability

The ALA Midwinter Meeting provides an opportunity to demonstrate this commitment as we partner with attendees through the registration process and thereafter.

How you can help.

Reducing our carbon footprint can be done in a myriad of ways. However, during the ALA Midwinter Meeting, we're asking that you consider our Sustainability Pledge when you:

register:

In lieu of the printed version of the program book, you can now choose a digital version, which will be available for download.
Make a $4.00 donation to Native Energy, an organization dedicated to helping build Native American farmer-owned and community-based projects. This year, your donation will support Jagers Ranch. See below to find how your donation helps Jagers Ranch Conservation^HB.

are onsite:

Use low carbon transportation options. While onsite, use the complimentary bus shuttles that ALA provides, ride public transportation (buses and trains), rideshare with people you know, or pick up an Indego bike (Philadelphia's Bike Share program).
Participate in your hotel's green initiatives (e.g., opt-out of daily linen changes, take advantage of paperless check-in/check-out options).
Download the ALA Mobile App to schedule events and sessions.
Bring your own reusable mug or water bottle, or you can purchase an ALA bottle at the ALA Store.
When disposing of trash, look for the recycling bins in the Convention Center, as well as throughout the city.
Turn in your conference badge at the end of the conference.
Reuse your conference tote for groceries and other errands when you return home.

travel to Philadelphia:

Try to book direct routes when flying. Planes release the most carbon during takeoff and landing.
If you're local to Philadelphia, take the opportunity to arrive via a relaxing train trip.
Fly economy. First and Business class takes up more space per seat, which means more fuel per passenger.
Pack light, as heavy luggage requires more fuel to carry.
Avoid food and water waste. Bring meals with you and refill your own water bottle.
Ask your hotel what they're doing to reduce their carbon footprint (i.e., LED lights, thermal insulation, less frequent laundering, etc.).

ALA's 2020 Carbon Offset Partner

Native Energy Image

The ALA Midwinter Meeting is fighting global warming with high-quality carbon offset in partnership with our preferred provider, Native Energy, an organization dedicated to helping build Native American farmer-owned, and community-based projects. This year we are supporting the Jagers Ranch Grasslands Conservation^HB project located in southeastern Colorado.

Jagers Ranch

View the commitments from our Meeting's Conference Partners

We will continue to update these pages with information for attendees, presenters, and exhibitors. If you have additional suggestions, please contact [email protected].