How Does a Library Go Green?

In this month's Preservation magazine, Eric Wills writes about the transformation of an old Colorado high school into a state-of-the-art, eco-friendly library. As in most libraries, "One of the largest challenges was configuring the new heating and cooling systems. In the end, an ecofriendly geothermal system, which operates using groundwater, proved the least intrusive option." There's also a recycled rubber floor and a fireplace made from old blackboards.

A trend for libraries? Perhaps not yet, but the Parkway Central Library of Philadelphia is also undergoing environmentally-friendly restoration. It recently got a green roof -- seriously, it's made of vegetation, which is expected to aid in waterproofing, insulation, and drainage.