Published on October 27, 2022
|
|
For Immediate Release
October 27, 2022
The Sustainable Libraries Initiative partners with New Jersey libraries to cultivate library leadership for community resilience
New York – October 27, 2022 – The Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI) and the New Jersey Library Association (NJLA) have announced a new partnership to provide resources and tools to all NJLA members that will accelerate work in libraries to build communities that will thrive when faced with the challenges of climate change.
Through this partnership, NJLA members will join a nationwide network of members who are using tools created or compiled by SLI to uncover ways that their libraries and communities will understand, lessen, and adapt to the effects of climate change. These include a custom CO2 calculator to help them estimate their current institutional greenhouse gas (GhG) emissions so they can measure progress in reducing GhG emissions; a vendor list to source more environmentally friendly products and services; policy examples; a webinar archive and the Road Map to Sustainability resource to help with planning. NJLA members will also receive a 20% discount on the award-winning Sustainable Library Certification Program.
“New Jersey has experienced the effects of climate change and after every major incident, libraries have proven to be a major source of support and resilience for their communities,” said Jessica Trujillo, President of NJLA. “This partnership with the Sustainable Libraries Initiative will help give our libraries resources and support to not only respond to crises but to anticipate future needs. I am so pleased to help bring this partnership with the Sustainable Libraries Initiative to NJLA.”
“We applaud the New Jersey Library Association for seeking this partnership to enable all of their members to accelerate their adoption of sustainable thinking,” said Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, Board President of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative, “Positioning New Jersey’s library community as leaders in the conversation about climate change mitigation and adaptation is a strong move to ensure libraries contribute to their community’s resilience and remain relevant and responsive institutions.”
The Sustainable Libraries Initiative and the one-of-a-kind Sustainable Library Certification Program (SLCP) provide tools and resources for public, academic, and school librarians to shift their policies and practices to align with the principles of triple-bottom-line sustainability: environmentally sound decisions, advancing social equity, and considering the economic feasibility of all choices. The program is designed to guide participants to look to their communities to identify needs and potential partners, adjust their current practices to align with the triple-bottom-line definition of sustainability, and reflect on how these actions are having a real impact in their organization and community.
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 libraries nationwide, school librarians throughout New York State, and will launch an Academic Library Certification Program nationwide in 2023.
New Jersey Library Association
Established in 1890, the NJLA is the oldest and largest library organization in New Jersey. NJLA advocates for the advancement of library services for the residents of New Jersey; provides continuing education & networking opportunities for librarians, and supports the principles of intellectual freedom & promotes access to library materials for all.