Conversation with Barbara Fischer
How can museums & libraries use digital technology to pave the way for a greener future?
Digital technology is a strong tool for outreach, community organizing and sharing knowledge in most feasible ways. GLAM institutions have a lot of skills and experience in these fields plus a high credibility among their audiences. To me, it is their (GLAMs) responsibility to help to create momentum for the most important message in our time: stop whacking our planet.
Barbara Fischer
In Germany, there are at least 19 GLAM* institutions monitor their carbon footprint now; after all, you can only reduce your carbon footprint when you identify where it is significant. For example the Jewish Museum in Frankfurt opted for a passive house building when they rebuilt the museum. However, there is limited funding / financial support available for addressing the climate crisis. "The fact is, as long as funding and the legal framework is not altered GLAM face the same or worse circumstances than any enterprise: money is the metric that counts.", says Barbara Fischer.
As a small step, check out this Manifesto from the Europeana Foundation that Barbara Fischer was instrumental in shaping as part of her work in the Climate Action Group.
*GLAM is an acronym for galleries, libraries, archives, and museums, and refers to cultural institutions with a mission to provide access to knowledge.