Colleagues/ Earlier this week, The Chronicle of Higher Education / Wired Campus reported on a recent initiative at Washington State University: "Internal Communications at Washington State U. Go Paperless" / Steve Kolowich / February 10, 2009 As noted in the story: "Washington State University has decided to go paperless for all internal communications on its four campuses, moving all memos, fliers, posters, and its weekly newspaper to cyberspace. 'Experts have been predicting a transition to a paperless society for years,' wrote Elson S. Floyd, the university's president, in a statement this afternoon. 'Meanwhile, it seems that the piles of papers that cross our desks keep growing. We plan to reverse that trend.' The decision, made official last month, comes amid an effort to trim $10-million from the university's budget by June, with further cuts anticipated next year. [snip] In addition, the article reports that "[w]hile the budgetary impact of going paperless might be largely symbolic, university officials note that the switch also has environmental benefits."[snip] She also said that quitting paper cold turkey would encourage the university to integrate Web 2.0 technologies-such as blogging and social networking-into its internal communications. [snip] For More Details and Link See [ http://tinyurl.com/b7otw5 ] She further elaborated stating ... 'it is really exciting to deliver the news in a new format," he added. "We have to learn to use the tools of the Web and Web 2.0 effectively.' For More Details and Link See [ http://tinyurl.com/daf8ge ] BTW: During the breakout session at our Sustainability Symposium held earlier this week, I had planned to suggest that various interlinked university social networks be created to facilitate communication, coordination, and cooperation amongst/between various individual, departmental, and administrative efforts but thought that The Idea would be considered Too Radical ... Little Did I Know That WSU Would See The (Potential) Benefit of Social Networks For Its Green Initiatives [:-)] Enjoy! /Gerry Gerry McKiernan Associate Professor Science and Technology Librarian Iowa State University Library Ames IA 50011 gerrymck@iastate.edu There is Nothing More Powerful Than An Idea Whose Time Has Come / Victor Hugo [ http://www.blogger.com/profile/09093368136660604490 ] Iowa: Where the Tall Corn Flows and the (North)West Wind Blows [ http://alternativeenergyblogs.blogspot.com/