My approach to recommending sources for this audience was inspired by my interest in cultural studies and history. If we don’t understand how we got here, how can we understand what needs to be done next? In order to make informed decisions about our environment’s future, it’s essential to be historically and culturally situated.

My approach, then, was twofold: I first chose sources that offer a history of the environmental movement, the ideologies behind it as well as those combatting it, and its cultural impact in the past and the “present” (relative to the authors’ writing). Next, I wanted sources that could get people active with some easy and maybe some less-easy ways to join the movement.

Our audience, it was decided, is the average consumer. It was my intention, therefore, to not only offer our patrons some concrete “how-to” lists, but also to make them more knowledgeable as to the significance of their new green activism. Understanding the impact of their actions will hopefully encourage and sustain the optimism for green activities.

1. Beyond Earth Day: Fulfilling the Promise
2. A Fierce Green Fire: the American Environmental Movement
3. The Grassroots of a Green Revolution: Polling America on the Environment
4. The Daily Green: The Consumer’s Guide to the Green Revolution
5. EPA Concerned Citizens Resources
6. TheUpperGreenSide.org