For Immediate Release
December 1, 2023

                       Ann-Marie Kalin, School Librarian at the Albert G. Prodell Middle School, is Certified Sustainable
                            The Sustainable Libraries Initiative recognizes Ann-Marie Kalin as a leader in sustainability.

                    Suffolk County, NY – December 1, 2023 - Ann-Marie Kalin, School Librarian at the Albert G. Prodell Middle School of the Shoreham-Wading River School District, in Shoreham, NY has been certified through the award-winning Sustainable Library Certification Program (SLCP). Ann-Marie’s creativity and enthusiasm help welcome all to the library for inquiry, creativity, play and joy. She shared the following statement about her journey on the path to certification:

“Prodell Library continues to thrive because we are always crafting to meet the needs of curious middle schoolers today and tomorrow. The Sustainable Library Certification Program helped to guide reflection and care to those very practices that fuel our space-for that time I am grateful and inspired.”

The comprehensive Sustainable Libraries Certification Program for School Librarians requires each member to work through five categories: Community Involvement, Leading Beyond the Library, Social Equity and Resiliency. Standards and Curriculum, and Collections. These categories all cover aspects of the key elements of the Triple Bottom Line of sustainability adopted by the Sustainable Libraries Initiative; environmentally sound, socially equitable, and economically viable. Certification program members work through both required and recommended actions to identify those that are most beneficial to their libraries and that best tell their stories of sustainability practices. In addition to the programs framework that members work through on their journey, SLCP members also gain access to resources including a mentor who provides guidance and advice throughout certification, monthly member meetups to connect with other members across the United States and Canada, as well as a repository of collected sustainability programs, support resources, vendor list, on demand webinars, and more.

Over the course of the certification process, Ann-Marie’s focus on community involvement and leading beyond the library demonstrated inspiring efforts. With a well-established relationship with the North Shore Public Library, Ann-Marie encourages lifelong love of learning and libraries. One of the required action items for participants to complete is creating new relationships with both non-profit & for-profit businesses and organizations. Ann-Marie capitalizes on the positive and generous energy of her MakerSpace and student card makers to build new partnerships with Stony Brook Children’s Hospital and Cards2Connect - cards for military personnel. This year alone over 400 cards were sent to servicemen and women as well as to pediatric patients to brighten their holidays. Prodell MakerSpace is dedicated to make and give, fueling a commitment to service.

As a member of many committees: The Curriculum Development Committee, Redesign of Middle School Committee and the Interdisciplinary Reading and Writing Committee, Ann-Marie actively shares and implements new and exciting ideas. She continues to ignite reading with various initiatives including the school wide BIG Read program, Mind Readers and often advocating for extended reading periods during the school day to celebrate the community of readers! With the support from the school’s Principal Kevin Vann and district Superintendent of Schools, Jerry Poole, Ann-Marie has welcomed many authors and organizes engaging opportunities for students. The Albert G. Prodell library is a citadel of inquiry, reading, play and joy. Ann-Marie ensures an environment that is welcoming to all, an encourages everyone to visit! 

For more information visit http://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org or contact:

Alex Blend, Sustainability Coordinator
Sustainable Libraries Initiative
Suffolk Cooperative Library System
631-286-1600 x 1355
sliadmin@suffolknet.org