SLCP Mentors
Upon enrolling in the Sustainable Library Certification Program (SLCP), members are assigned a mentor to assist as needed on their journey towards certification. Below is a list of our mentors, including a photo and bio about them. Take a look at all of the wonderful volunteers who after completing the SLCP, have decided to pay it forward and offer to mentor other members on the path to being certified sustainable.
Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MLS, LEED AP, is the co-founder of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative and a co-creator of the award-winning Sustainable Library Certification Program. Currently the executive director of the Mid-Hudson Library System (NY), Rebekkah has been invited to speak on the topic of sustainability around the world and has written extensively on the topic of sustainability, including the titles Sustainable Thinking: Ensuring Your Libraries Future in an Uncertain World and Resilience, part of the ALA Futures Series. Rebekkah was named a Library Journal Mover & Shaker, and in 2018 received the Outstanding Service to Libraries Award from the New York Library Association.
Matthew Bollerman is the CEO of the Hauppauge Public Library. He is Co-Founder and Vice-President of the Advisory Board of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative and is the past chair of the American Library Association Council Committee on Sustainability. Matt served as the New York Library Association President in 2012 and is the current Treasurer-Elect. He has spoken about libraries, sustainability and more throughout New York and the United States. He is passionate about public libraries' ability to help regenerate their communities.
Dr. Jen Cannell is the School Library System Director at Southern Westchester BOCES and instructor at Syracuse University and St. John Fisher University. Her career has been dedicated to advancing the impact that school librarians have within their communities. Jen is a member of the team that developed the School Librarian Benchmarks for the SLCP and is an active mentor to those seeking certification. Besides the breakthrough learning moments with her students, Jen is most proud to have been recognized with the Anthony Clement Memorial Award for exemplifying the qualities of acceptance, collaboration, and community building while obtaining her doctorate from the Sage Colleges.
Laura Crisci is the Library Sustainability Coordinator for the Mid-Hudson Library System, the first public library system to achieve the Sustainable Libraries Certification (2022). She holds an MLIS from SUNY Buffalo and an Advanced Certificate in Public Library Administration from the Palmer School at LIU-Post. Laura creates professional development opportunities for the member libraries and assists them with the State Aid for Library Construction Program and the Annual Report to the State.
Nardia Cumberbatch is a tenured librarian at Valencia College, FL where she has worked since 2014. Valencia College Library was the second academic library to achieve the Sustainable Libraries Certification. In addition to her librarian duties, Nardia has also been an adjunct professor since 2017, teaching courses in health science research methods. She authored the chapter “Exploring UN SDG Target Goals through a Research Poster Project” in The Sustainable Library’s Cookbook.
Jill Davis has been the Director of the Hendrick Hudson Free Library since 2006. The Library has always played a vital role in introducing the community to new and important information. Under her direction, it continues this mission by taking a leadership role in educating the community in the importance of implementing sustainable practices. Jill has spent the last 8 years integrating sustainable practices into all areas of library operations. HHF was the first library to receive the Sustainable Library Initiative Certification. She was part of the ground roots development of the SLI program used today and she has spoken on the importance of the SLI program at many local and state venues. Jill has worked and lives in the community she serves her entire life.
Claudia Depkin is the Library Director at the Haverstraw King’s Daughters Public Library, Past-President of the New York Library Association and former Chairperson of the New York Regents Advisory Council on Libraries. She was named a Library Journal Mover & Shaker in 2019 for her work on building community around sustainability as a co-creator of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative.
Debbie Engelhardt is the Director of Comsewogue Public Library, which was part of the first group of libraries to participate in the Sustainable Libraries Certification Program. Debbie is also an Adjunct Professor at the Palmer School of Library and Information Science (Long Island University), a member of the PLDA/MLD Diversity Committee and a mentor in the PLDA/SCLS/CLASC Mentorship Program. Debbie also serves on several community boards: Mather Hospital (Northwell Health), Jefferson's Ferry Life Plan Community, Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck, Hope Children’s Fund and Decision – Women in Commerce and Professions. Debbie is an active Rotarian and a Past President of the Port Jefferson and Southampton Rotary Clubs.
Jennifer Ferriss is the Assistant Director at the Saratoga Springs Public Library (NY) which was the second library to achieve Sustainable Libraries Certification. Jen was a co-creator for the Certification program and helped Market the Cause, producing newsletters and social media posts to promote the program. Along with Board member, Lisa Kropp, she co-authored a book chapter for Libraries and Sustainability: Programs and Practices for Community Impact. Jennifer currently serves as an ALA Councilor for the American Library Association Sustainability Roundtable (ALA SustainRT) and Chair of the ALA Conference Committee, actively working on a carbon-neutral conference by 2025.
Lisa Jacobs is the Director of Longwood Public Library in Middle Island, NY, which achieved Sustainable Library Certification in 2021. Lisa holds an MLS from Simmons University and an Advanced Certificate in Library Administration from the Palmer School at LIU-Post. She was a key member of the building team during Longwood Public Library’s $18 million renovation which resulted in a LEED Platinum Certified facility. Lisa is past president of New York Library Association’s Youth Services Section and Partnership of Automated Libraries in Suffolk, and currently serves on the board of the Public Library Directors Association of Suffolk County.
Lisa Kropp is the Coordinator of ALA’s Sustainability roundtable, SustainRT. She served on ALA’s task force for Sustainability, and was the secretary for the New York Library Association’s Sustainable Thinking and Action round table, START. She co-authored a book chapter for Libraries and Sustainability: Programs and Practices for Community Impact. She is a frequent presenter both regionally and nationally on the topic of sustainability. She is the Director of the Lindenhurst Memorial Library, which was the third library to achieve Sustainable Libraries Certification from the Sustainable Libraries Initiative.
Claire Mitchell is an elementary Teacher-Librarian who merges her dedication to research and education with her drive for innovation. Leveraging her diverse background encompassing 12 years as a Research Analyst on Wall Street and 20 years as a versatile educator, Claire inspires a love for reading, research, and critical thinking in her students. As a Certified Sustainable Librarian, she incorporates forward-thinking perspective, shaping informed and responsible citizens for the Digital Age.
Joanna McCloskey is a high school Librarian and AP Research Teacher at Seaford High School.
Hazel Onsrud is a public librarian in Brunswick, Maine at Curtis Memorial Library, the first library outside of NY to complete the certification process of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative. Hazel tends to work on community programming and collection development, including a library of things focused on the sustainable development goals. Prior to joining CML she also cofounded the Maine Tool Library. In her free time, she likes to make things, eat curries and design gardens.
Roger Reyes received his MLS from CUNY Queens College, and serves as the Assistant Director of the Suffolk Cooperative Library System, where he helps libraries coordinate purchasing and services. Roger was the Treasurer for the New York Library Association, where he coordinated organizational memberships across the state. He frequently presents on the topic of libraries and sustainability for the SLI. He currently serves as Treasurer for the Sustainable Libraries Initiative.
Janet Scherer is currently the Director of the South Huntington Public Library in Huntington Station, NY. Janet obtained both her MLS and Advanced Certificate in Library Administration from the Palmer School at LIU-Post. She has successfully completed coursework given by the Parent Leadership Training Institute, the Huntington Leadership Program, the Harwood Institute and the first cohort of Community Change Agents led by the Sustainable Libraries Initiative. In addition to the SLI Advisory Board, Janet serves on the boards of both the Long Island Library Resource Council (LILRC) and the Public Libraries Director Association of Suffolk County.
Michelle Statfeld is a Library Media and Educational Technology Specialist at West Babylon Junior High School who completed the Certification Program as a School Librarian during the summer of 2023. Working in the education field for over 30 years, Michelle holds New York Certifications in Special and Elementary Education and English 7-12. Recently she followed her dream by combining her love of teaching with her love of literature. During Covid, Michelle completed two master’s degrees and earned New York State Certifications in Library Media and Educational Technology. She was awarded the 2023 SSLMA -Suffolk School Library Media Association’s Library Project Award to create an American Sign Language STEM Station and the 2023 SSLMA Fresh Start Award.
Margaret Woodruff is the Director of the Charlotte Library in Charlotte, Vermont. She has been the director since 2011 and has managed the library to meet new demands and challenges, from increased social media presence to expanded community program to response to COVID response. The Charlotte Library completed a renovation/expansion project in 2020 with a net-zero ready design and expanded community spaces. She recently coordinated the launch of a Vermont Sustainable Libraries Working Group, a nine-library cohort working together towards Sustainable Library Certification. When not reading or knitting hats, Margaret enjoys baking, gardening and hiking the hills of Vermont.