I’m delighted to be invited back to the Wild Wisconsin Winter Conference, this time as their opening keynote AND they have a sustainability track! Go Wisconsin!

New Partnership between American Library Association & the Sustainable Libraries Initiative!

I’m delighted to be the lead instructor for the first-ever eCourse from the American Library Association on Sustainability. Thanks to a partnership between ALA and the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI), students will have access to a four-week course on the new core value of sustainability.

Course Description:
Climate change and environmental destruction are a code red for humanity and are this generation’s grandest challenge. In 2019, ALA Council added “Sustainability” as a core value of the profession, adopting the triple bottom line definition of sustainability to ensure balanced decision-making that respects environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic feasibility. As community leaders and facilitators, libraries should be modeling sustainable practices among their staff and within their facilities.

In this special eCourse, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, President of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative, will lead you through the principles and practices of sustainable librarianship along with a group of expert speakers, lecturers and writers. 

Our ability to pull together as neighbors and adapt in the face of what is already happening while lessening the severity of the impacts for future generations will require us to think differently, to adopt a new mindset, and to consider decisions—large and small—through the lens of sustainability. Libraries of all types are perfectly positioned to help with and to lead in this work. We must step up in this moment and find ways to lead by example and inspire those we serve with and for to do the same.

After participating in this course:

• Students will have a strong understanding of the “triple bottom line” definition of sustainability as adopted by the American Library Association as a Core Value of Librarianship. 
• Students will be able to accurately describe operational decisions, services, programs, and partnerships their library is already undertaking that better position their institutions as sustainability leaders
• Using the “sustainable thinking” model, students will be able to make operational decisions as well as design new services, programs, and partnerships to ensure their institutions are relevant and responsive in the face of the impacts of climate change. 
• Students will understand the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the context of climate justice.

There are 25 free seats in the eCourse for members of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative. All others can register through this link.

Sustainable Library Certification Awarded to the Mid-Hudson Library System (NY)

The Sustainable Libraries Initiative has announced that my very own Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) has been certified through the Sustainable Library Certification Program.

As part of our certification process, MHLS developed policies that explicitly state the importance of considering triple bottom line sustainability in decision-making at all levels of the organization. We have made efforts to reduce waste by exclusively using reusable cups, dishes, and cutlery in their staff areas and conference rooms. We started composting food waste on-site and recently installed EV chargers in our parking lot. We regularly highlight member libraries who demonstrate programs or events that focus on environmental stewardship in their newsletter. To decorate for a recent event, the staff upcycled discarded books into pumpkin centerpieces to adorn the tables, created birdhouses out of children’s book covers (pictured), and made trees out of old magazines.

MHLS has continued to find new and innovative ways to expand library services, create new partnerships, and find new ways to inform and empower their member libraries and communities. Their Library of Local project was formed in partnership with Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley to assist community members in taking action on the climate crisis. This project includes a lending library and programming developed around a yearly theme. Fifteen MHLS libraries were selected to participate, providing a network of climate resilience resources in communities throughout their service area.

See the highlights in the Sustainable Libraries Initiative’s November 2022 Newsletter, Press Release, and our Certification Presentation.

Recent interview with Kate Larson for Demco

When Kate Larson reached out to ask if I wanted to be interviewed for Demco’s Ideas & Inspiration Blog, how could I say no?

“It’s systemic. It’s not just the environment — it’s how we treat people. It’s how we spend money. It’s the choices we make every single day in almost every area of our lives.” –Rebekkah Smith Aldrich

You can read the full interview here. Thanks Kate!

My latest column for Library Journal features the new New Canaan Library

My latest column for Library Journal features the work of Lisa Oldham and Micaela Porta at the New Canaan Library (the newest member of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative!) who are doing amazing work to ensure that no materials used in their construction project were created with forced or slave labor. They are partnering with Design for Freedom to contribute to a database to surface ethical manufacturers to help other building projects do the same.

You can read the full article here.

The American Library Association’s Public Programs Office has chosen our latest book for their book club!

ALA has announced the “Libraries and Sustainability” Virtual Book Club, a series of three virtual, interactive conversations about incorporating sustainability into librarianship to be held in November and December 2022.

Library workers who would like to be considered for one of the 100 available spots should apply online by August 19.

Participation is free but limited to 100 participants. Participants will receive a free print or ebook copy of “Libraries and Sustainability: Programs and Practices for Community Impact,” edited by René Tanner, Adrian K. Ho, Monika Antonelli and Rebekkah Smith Aldrich (ALA Editions, 2021).

Participants will be expected to attend each of the three virtual book club sessions listed below and read the three corresponding chapters in advance. Sessions will not be recorded.

Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by September 5. Sessions will take place over Zoom; the link will be provided to participants once their registration is confirmed.

“Libraries and Sustainability: Programs and Practices for Community Impact” offers an easy-to-digest introduction to what staff at a range of libraries have accomplished in incorporating sustainability into their decision-making and professional practices. In addition, a discussion about the role of economics and sustainability will challenge readers to stretch in new ways to positively impact their communities.

The book club series consists of three 90-minute virtual book clubs. Each session will feature one chapter from “Libraries and Sustainability,” and will offer a live conversation with the chapter’s authors, small-group breakout discussion, and Q&A time with the authors.

Sessions will include:

Monday, November 14, 2022, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. CST

“Libraries in the Doughnut Economy,” with Monika Antonelli, René Tanner, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich and Adrian K. Ho

The current challenges brought on by climate change require bold thinking and action to turn the tide. The authors will introduce the concept of “Doughnut Economics” and explore how library leaders can supercharge a just transition to an economy that is less extractive and puts the well-being of our fellow humans at the center of decision-making.

Participants in this session will:

• Understand the conceptual model of Doughnut Economics and how it can help libraries contribute to a sustainable and resilient society
• Explore the importance of the Knowledge Commons for a more just society
• Walk away with an understanding of how to think like a “21st-century economist”

Thursday, December 1, 2022, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. CST

“Walking the Path to Sustainable Library Certification,” with Jill Davis, Jennifer Ferriss and Lisa G. Kropp

Being a sustainable library means using the triple bottom line of sustainability — environmental stewardship, social equity and economic feasibility — to guide decision-making at your library. From large decisions (e.g., how to operate your building sustainably or achieve buy-in from staff and stakeholders) to small decisions (which copy paper to buy), libraries can demonstrate leadership in the area of sustainability. Using this methodology makes for a library that lives its values out loud, treats its workers well, and is a strong community co-creator to ensure that residents thrive.

Participants in this session will:

• Understand how the triple bottom line of sustainability can be applied through library operations, service/program design and outreach
• Hear from three library leaders who have done this work and achieved Sustainable Library Certification status
• Walk away with an empowered mindset to be the change they want to see in the world

Wednesday, December 14, 2022, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. CST

“Rapid Library Disaster Response and Recovery for Community Resiliency” Michele P. Stricker

A key element to successfully responding to a major disaster is the overall preparedness of individual citizens, families and the community as a whole. This session will provide an overview of tools to help library leaders overcome challenging disaster scenarios, mitigate risk, and focus on helping libraries rebound quickly from a disaster so their communities become more resilient.

Participants in this session will: 

• Learn how to hone situational awareness to improve response decisions in the aftermath of a disaster
• Receive an introduction to disaster preparedness models that have been proven effective
• Walk away with a renewed focus to ensure communities thrive thanks to a library’s preparedness for the next disaster

Thanks Public Libraries Magazine!

My latest column for Library Journal shines a light on the incredible work of libraries becoming certified through the Sustainable Libraries Initiative’s Sustainable Library Certification Program

“On Earth Day 2022, Suffolk County, NY, Executive Steven Bellone announced a $12 million investment in electric vehicle charging stations. He chose the Lindenhurst Memorial Library (LML) as the location for the press conference. “That’s why we’re at the Lindenhurst Library today, because they have been in the lead. I want to thank them for their vision, their leadership…. We truly appreciate Lindenhurst being out in front on such an important issue.”

LML was the second library in the country to be certified under the Sustainable Libraries Initiative’s Sustainable Library Certification Program, a program Library Director Lisa Kropp has credited not only with catching the eye of the county executive but also one that helped the library staff to prepare for one of the biggest disruptions to modern life as we know it, COVID-19. “I’m convinced that because our library was involved in sustainable work over the past two years (prior to the pandemic), we were ready to bounce back from this social disruption—and show our grit and resiliency in the face of adversity.”

The award-winning Sustainable Library Certification Program, the first of its kind in the world for libraries, helps library leaders tackle what has proven to be a massive challenge: how to run our libraries and develop strategies that combat climate change while building community resilience.

HOW IT WORKS

The program provides methodology for helping a library’s leadership build buy-in and make progress on the topics surrounding sustainability in their organization using the triple bottom line definition of sustainability. The goal of the work is to influence the mindset of library leaders—at all levels of the organization—to ensure that as we make decisions, large and small, we do so through this framework of considering not only the cost, but also the environmental and social impact…”

Read the full column here.

“Sustainability in Libraries: A Call to Action” released by the American Library Association’s Council Committee on Sustainability

Climate change is the single greatest threat to global health and this generation’s grandest challenge, but many library leaders feel overwhelmed, even paralyzed about where to start. “Sustainability in Libraries: A Call to Action,” a new briefing from the ALA Council Committee on Sustainability, is here to focus attention on how the library community can accelerate their understanding and action, in the areas of climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Readers will learn:

• Why ALA has adopted the “triple bottom line” definition of sustainability as a core value of the profession;
• How libraries can take the lead on climate adaptation;
• Why climate justice work is equity, diversity, and inclusion work;
• How many in our field are already answering the call for leadership on the topic of sustainability;
• How ALA, as an association, is living its values out loud on this topic; and
• Simple, practical steps anyone can take to get started.

ALA President Patty Wong focused on sustainability during her presidential year, noting in her kickoff American Libraries column about this topic, “This is the time to stand together in solidarity…to meet the enormous challenges of the climate crisis and summon the effort to deal with its impact. Climate change is a unifying issue for libraries across the globe, and we must commit to doing all we can to prepare our communities for its effects.”

The authors of the briefing, members of the new ALA Council Committee on Sustainability, represent public, school and academic libraries and have strong ties to the ALA Special Task Force on Sustainability, the Sustainability Round Table, the Sustainable Libraries Initiative and the Executive Board of ALA.

This briefing is free to download through the new LibGuide on Sustainability, curated by ALA Librarian & Archivist, Colleen Barbus.

Watch out library school students, they let me write a chapter in your textbook…

A BIG thank you to Sandy Hirsch for inviting Michele Stricker and I to partner up on a chapter in the new edition of “Information Services Today: An Introduction.” We had a blast working together, as always!