The Authority File Round-Up: May 2022

A quick overview of last month's episodes, in case you missed them

Posted on June 14, 2022 in Blog

Sustainability is a critical topic in the environmental movement. As concerns around animal extinction, water and air quality, and climate change only grow, an increasing urgency surrounds the development and implementation of greener systems. What actions can we take to address environmental issues on the global, national, and local levels? What personal role do we play in creating a more sustainable future?

Last month, our guest dove into our individual and collective responsibility to the planet. He discussed barriers to living a more sustainable life, along with the impact of racism and classism on environmental policies. We hear about how environmental sustainability can go beyond addressing corporate lobbying and green-washing. Our guest lays out the actions we can take both within and outside of our local communities to reduce our carbon footprint and how we can hold ourselves more accountable for cultivating greener lives.

Here’s a quick round-up of the episodes, in case you missed them. We hope you find the conversation compelling, transformative, and helpful. Thanks for listening!

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Practical Sustainability

Robert Brinkmann, author of Practical Sustainability: A Guide to a More Sustainable Life, breaks down the complexity of sustainable living. Calling sustainability a “no-judgement zone,” Bob tackles individual environmental responsibility, green policies on the local and global scale, and how to stay motivated in this important work. He also explores how the earth sciences can better address environmental issues by embracing collaboration and interdisciplinary work. Brought to you by Springer Nature.

Episode one: Introductions and Changes in Environmental Studies

• How has the environmental studies field evolved? How do today’s students—who care deeply about enacting meaningful environmental policy—further transform the discipline? Listen to episode one here.

Episode two: Translating for the Layperson

• How does Bob scale down massive environmental issues into global, national, and local efforts? How can we strike a balance between holding environmentally destructive companies accountable while also taking personal responsibility in cultivating a greener life? Listen to episode two here.

Episode three: What Difference Can One Person Really Make?

• What is our individual environmental responsibility? How can local communities enact greater change? Plus, Bob chats about his Thirty-Day Sustainability Challenge and the importance of representing sustainability as a “no judgement zone.” Listen to episode three here.

Episode four: Unpacking Earth Sciences and the “Natural” World

• How can the earth science disciplines come together to study major issues like climate change and sustainability? How can librarians assist in sustainability research? Listen to episode four here.

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Missed April’s episodes? We’ve got you covered.

We had two terrific series in April. First, Michelle Porter joined the program to discuss the writing and editing process of her memoir Scratching River. She dove into her poetic style and use of “arts-based research”—treating art forms like oral history or bead-work as areas of study—to form her method of creative nonfiction. Click here to find the first episode.

Our second series featured Emily Farrell, Library Partnerships and Sales Lead at MIT Press, and Curtis Brundy, Associate University Librarian at Iowa State University. Emily and Curtis brought both a publisher and librarian perspective to MIT Press’s library collective action model Direct to Open (D2O). They reflected on the past year of D2O, accessing its value, setbacks, and goals, while also making predictions about the model’s future support and evolution. You can listen to the series here.

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What’s Coming Up in June

We have two great series this month. First, two academic librarians, a university press worker, and a vendor reflect on the current and forthcoming academic librarian landscape. They discuss the rise in digital, COVID-19’s impact on market trends, and the library’s evolution into a service, not a physical place. You can listen to the first episode here.

Our second series spotlights the planning, development, and success of three academic library innovations. Our guests dig into the logistics of implementing their ideas, and provide guidance and tips on how librarians can advance projects of their own. Listen to the first episode here.

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You can find more episodes of the Authority File here on our website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks for listening! See you next month.

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