When you open Glasgow Women’s Library's Handbook to Net-Zero, you are greeted by a bold statement –
“Our aim is to make Glasgow Women’s Library Net Zero by 2030.”
Pictured: The chalk sign that greets you as you enter the doors of Glasgow Women's Library
Of course, GWL’s very foundations are acts of boldness. Now celebrating its 32nd birthday, the aims of GWL revolve around being a catalyst for change, pioneering new ideas, and breaking down barriers.
As the sign at the front door states, this is no ordinary library. Working across multi-artforms, and with an entirely donated collection, spanning over 20,000 books, over 4,000 museum artifacts, and over half a million archive items, GWL is the only accredited museum of women's history in the UK. The archive and library collection is also a recognised collection of national significance.
Pictured: The opening words of the GWL Net-Zero Handbook
As Sue John, Director of Operations, Resources and Enterprise notes, the Glasgow Women's Library’s name is a slight misnomer – while they are, of course, based in Glasgow, the team works all over Scotland and internationally, in addition to the visitors that come from across the country and globe because of their unique status.
It is therefore no surprise, but still truly inspiring, that their approach to the climate crisis would be a pioneering one.
Pictured: The interior of the library at GWL
GWL takes a feminist approach to governance and leadership, and as such, firmly believe in the essential value of equality of voice. This has led to the development of ‘Creative Clusters’, which Sue explains are essentially their version of working groups, open to Board and staff team members and to volunteers.
Pictured: Upstairs interior of GWL
Pictured: The Reading Room at GWL
The Green Cluster is formed of staff and volunteers from across the organisation who are deeply committed to this area of work, indeed, as is the whole organisation. This is evident in the events programming alone, where events with an environmental focus have been a common thread throughout the lifespan of GWL.
As noted on their website regarding their Environmental Policy:
Our Green Creative Cluster, a team of staff, board members and volunteers, meets regularly to develop and implement innovative and creative ways to reduce our carbon footprint. We are committed to minimising waste, working towards maximum energy efficiency, and to re-using and recycling resources.
Sue explained that “[Clusters] are open to people in the organisation who want to step outside their job description - whose interests, whose own personal values may align with that particular subject. So [the Handbook to Net-Zero] was brought together, not by Senior Management, not by the Board, but by our Green Cluster.”
Sue explained that to embark on this work, it all began with the importance of asking questions.
How can we reduce our emissions? How can we be carbon neutral? We’re in an early 20th century building – is it even possible? Who would be able to help us?
This questioning nature is again a core part of GWL, whose creative spirit is truly longstanding.
“We’ve always had creative dynamics, right from the start – creativity and innovation are in our organisational DNA. There's this kind of long thread that pulled through from creatives being involved right from the start. And I think that is quite unusual in a lot of organisations in our sector.”
This final question of ‘who?’ led to another point that Sue believes is key to work in this area – having the right people in place.
Enter Dress for the Weather, a Glasgow-based architecture practice, who along with John Gilbert Architects and Lùths Services, carried out a series of pieces of work around what it would take to get GWL’s building to Net Zero status, documented in the Handbook.
Pictured: The front cover of the Net-Zero Handbook
The Handbook is 55 pages long, providing background on the building and definitions around Net Zero, before interrogating every aspect of the building and what work should be undertaken. It provides helpful insight along the way into why certain activities would need to be carried out – demystifying and supporting the development of environmental literacy that Sue believes is of the utmost importance.
“It’s about looking at environmental literacy, you know? What is it around behaviours that people can change, but don’t feel empowered to change? What can we do? How can we be agents of change within our local community? The awareness raising aspect of environmental work.”
The funding for the Handbook came from COVID recovery grants – a combination of National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Museums and Galleries Scotland grants – but the fundraising to carry out the works is just beginning. As Sue notes, “I think we're aware that now the work starts.”
Actions so far include energy efficient LED lights, the installation of secondary glazing, and developing new processes around their approach to recycling. The Green Cluster has also been capturing and submitting detail of carbon emissions to Creative Carbon Scotland.
Pictured: Permanent Installation at GWL - Rabiya Choudhry's illuminated artwork 'Give light and people will find the way (Ella Baker)'
Should GWL be successful in their mission to be Net Zero by 2030, Sue believes it would make them the first museum in the UK to have done so.
What lies ahead for such pioneers? Ideas and questions, driving them forward as ever.
“What would it look like if we powered the whole of Landressy Street? How would that work? What would we need to make that happen? Because unless we ask those questions, then we're not going to know, are we?”
Pictured: Sue John, Director of Operations, Resources and Enterprise at GWL
All images credit Creative Scotland
