For Immediate Release
March 21, 2025

North Bellmore Public Library is Certified Sustainable
The Sustainable Libraries Initiative recognizes North Bellmore Public Library
as a leader in sustainability.

Suffolk County, NY –March 21, 2025 –North Bellmore Public Library located in North Bellmore, New York has been designated as a Certified Sustainable Library through the Sustainable Library Certification Program (SLCP).

Completing the journey to certification that started in January 2023, North Bellmore Public Library has thoroughly demonstrated the value in adopting socially equitable, financially responsible, and environmentally conscious practices in the library space. 

“The North Bellmore Public Library takes great pride in the collective achievements of our library and vibrant North Bellmore community,” said NBPL Director Jessica Tymecki. “I am thankful to our Board of Trustees for their unwavering support of our vision and commitment to sustainability, and the library’s Sustainability Team, led by Assistant Director James Luberto, for their dedication and daily efforts in meeting the standards for sustainable practices.”

The library has implemented many admirable practices such as reusing water collected from dehumidifiers for plants; repurposing crayons for children in hospitals in partnership with the Crayon Initiative; hosting regular office hours with state legislators in the library to provide community members better access to their representatives; installing light switches with timers, occupancy sensors, and light level options; and establishing a composting program fueled by coffee grounds from local coffee shops.

The library is also New York State’s first and only public library to house a Sensory Nook Pod. This uniquely designed workspace establishes a more inclusive environment by accommodating neurodivergent individuals who may be uncomfortable or find it challenging to be productive in traditional library workspaces.

“While our dedication to sustainable practices began long before pursuing certification in 2023, earning Certified Sustainable Library status serves as a testament to the resilience, dedication, and teamwork that have driven our sustainability initiatives. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the efforts of our hard-working staff, guidance from our mentor, and the support of our community,” said Luberto.

With this achievement, North Bellmore Public Library becomes the twenty-seventh public library to earn SLCP certification: an award-winning benchmarking system and 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. 

“North Bellmore Public Library's SLI Team took a progressive approach to sustainability from the onset and continues to build on that solid foundation. The Library is an impressive role model for the entire community as regards its forward thinking and integration of the Triple Bottom Line framework. The Team's energy, talent and creativity are evident. I'm excited to see what comes next.” said mentor Debbie Engelhardt. 

As a part of ongoing initiatives, NBPL plans to pilot a seedling library, plant a pollinator garden, and continue the development of diverse programming and partnerships representative of their community. “The certification underscores our ongoing commitment to creating a lasting, positive impact in North Bellmore, and we are excited to continue working together toward a sustainable and compassionate future,” added Luberto.

For more information, please visit North Bellmore Public Library’s sustainability website or view their final presentation. 

About the Sustainable Libraries Initiative

The Sustainable Libraries Initiative is a member-driven organization that empowers library professionals to be leaders in triple-bottom-line sustainability (environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic feasibility) both within their organizations and in their communities. The Sustainable Library Certification Program is now enrolling public and academic libraries, library systems, and school librarians.