Published on June 8, 2023
Shelter Island Public Library is Certified Sustainable
The Sustainable Libraries Initiative recognizes Shelter Island Public Library as a leader in sustainability.
Suffolk County, NY – June 9, 2023 – Shelter Island Public Library on Long Island, New York has been designated a “Certified Sustainable Library” through the Sustainable Libraries Initiative’s award-winning Sustainable Library Certification Program.
"It is heartening to see the strong commitment to the tenets of sustainability that is being made by Shelter Island Public Library. Congratulations on completing the Sustainable Libraries Initiative certification. The Library's commitment to environmentally sound practices and community engagement is something that we can all admire and learn from.” Said Matthew Bollerman, SLCP Mentor for the library, co-founder of the SLI, and CEO of Hauppauge Public Library.
Shelter Island Public Library has embraced and aligned their sustainable practices by harboring relationships that benefit their collective impact. The library houses a Seed Library in collaboration with Sylvester Manor, promoting sustainable agriculture and community involvement. Organized by Jocelyn Ozolins, the Seed Library is also at the Shelter Island Farmers Market, allowing them to connect with individuals who may not typically visit the library. This initiative has garnered considerable attention and support, with several features in the local newspaper.
Additionally, the library has found many ways to serve their community by hosting a “Bike Repair Cafe'', offering patrons a Library of Things, and showcasing displays that amplify the voices of marginalized communities. These displays feature works from LGBTQA+ authors and authors of color, promoting inclusivity and encouraging readers to explore diverse perspectives.
Director Terry Lucas also touched on how working towards certification allowed them to change other aspects throughout the Shelter Island Public Library, “We made changes to the library’s purchasing, presented programs covering environmental and social issues, planned for an expanded building that would be useful for all members of the community, as well as environmentally friendly. We kept the goal of certification in mind, I’m proud of our library team for following through.”
Through its partnerships, engaging programming, and expansion efforts, Shelter Island Public Library remains committed to fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of sustainable agriculture while empowering individuals to participate in preserving our agricultural heritage.
International Impact
Shelter Island Public Library is among a growing number of libraries nationwide that are participating in the Sustainable Library Certification Program, the first of its kind in the world. This benchmarking program was developed to assist libraries of all kinds - public, academic, and individual school librarians - to create opportunities to make better choices on behalf of the local and global community. The program has been recognized by the International Federation of Library Associations at their 2019 World Congress in Athens, Greece, becoming the first program in the United States to be honored through their “Green Libraries” Award.
Comprehensive Approach
With categories of actions focusing on each of the three pillars of triple bottom line sustainability such as Collective Impact, Indoor Spaces, Social Cohesion, and Resilience Planning, this comprehensive process leads a library toward institutional change that shifts the rationale for every decision to consider the local and global impacts. Through this program, libraries work with their communities to listen and learn, allowing local needs to be identified and addressed. The path to certification through the Sustainable Libraries Certification Program is flexible for libraries of different types, sizes, and budgets and guided by the communities they serve. Each library that completes the program will select the benchmarks that best fit the needs of their library and community, resulting in a uniquely sustainable organization.
For more information, please contact:
Sustainable Libraries Initiative
Suffolk Cooperative Library System
631-286-1600 x1355