Published on February 28, 2024
For Immediate Release
Copiague Memorial Public Library is Certified Sustainable
The Sustainable Libraries Initiative recognizes Copiague Memorial Public Library as a leader in sustainability.
Suffolk County, NY – February 28, 2024 - Copiague Memorial Public Library located in Copiague, New York has been designated a “Certified Sustainable Library” through the Sustainable Libraries Initiative’s award-winning Sustainable Library Certification Program (SLCP).
Since beginning the process of certification in January 2022, the Copiague Memorial Public Library has taken ambitious strides to align itself with environmentally-friendly practices, and the demands of their community. As a coastal town, Copiague is highly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. Establishing strong climate resilience strategies within their library, being a trailblazer for sustainability, and taking continuous steps towards a greener future is now more important than ever.
Ken Miller, the Director of Copiague Memorial Public Library spoke on his experience navigating their work over the past two years:
“We decided to undertake the Sustainability Certification process in January of 2022. It has been a long road but definitely worth it. I would like to thank the staff and the Board of Trustees for their work and their support towards achieving this goal. I think the best part of the Sustainability Certification process is getting together with people in the community who share an interest and a passion for the tenets of sustainability - environmental stewardship, economic feasibility, and social equity. These ideas dovetail nicely with the core values of the public library and enable the library to put forward new programs, events and initiatives into the community. I look forward to continuing to promote the Sustainable Libraries Initiative in the years to come.”
Copiague’s certification was granted on account of many impressive actions taken by the library’s sustainability team. Over 1300 square feet of lawn space was replaced by native plants and pollinator gardens, a vegetable garden was planted to donate produce to local food pantries, a portable air-quality monitor was purchased and made available for patrons to borrow, and screens were added to their doors and windows to allow natural ventilation. Other notable achievements include their partnership with a local boatyard to recycle over 350 pounds of wrapping-film, successful monitoring of water usage to promptly correct a leak in their sprinkler system, and the continued development of their programs and library collection to include materials in languages other than English.
Janet Scherer, director of the South Huntington Public Library and Copiague’s mentor throughout their process with the SLCP, shared the following sentiment after the library’s official certification:
“The policies, facility changes, and initiatives that Copiague enacted on their path to certification genuinely exemplify the integration of sustainability into their library setting. I commend Copiague’s director, Ken Miller and his team on their endeavors and consider them a superb model for those undergoing certifications or contemplating it.”
This accomplishment makes Copiague Memorial Public Library the nineteenth public library to complete the Sustainable Library Certification Program, an award-winning community of practice designed to provide public libraries, academic libraries, library systems, and school librarians with exclusive resources and guidelines to shift towards a cleaner, greener, and more equitable future.
Completion of the certification is just the beginning of Copiague’s journey down a more sustainable path. In addition to Copiague’s sustainably-amended policies, the library has demonstrated a commitment to sustainability in the future with plans such as the installation of electric-vehicle chargers in their parking lots, annual office supply swaps for their staff, and the gradual replacement of all fluorescent lights to LEDs. Furthermore, the work being done by the library serves as a fantastic example for their local community: spreading environmental awareness and encouraging patrons to act sustainably in their own lives and physical spaces. Copiague’s involvement with the Sustainable Libraries Initiative transcends their facility, and will have a lasting impact both locally and for the planet.