INDEPTH
Get involved and ‘Go Green’ this Libraries Week
LIBRARIES Week is going Green this year, with a focus on sustainability throughout the library sector. Every year, CILIP’s Libraries Week provides libraries across the UK with an opportunity to shout about the great work they are doing for their communities and users. And this year, it is all about libraries taking steps to reduce their own environmental impact and empow- ering others to do the same.
Many library services are already on their own environmental journey, and Green Libraries Week will showcase some of those journeys and the positive impact they are having – whether that is new (and refurbished) low-carbon buildings; looking for sustain- able options to reduce waste (see this month’s Building Collections Insight on page 30); or projects that are helping to deliver wider community benefits. And no matter where libraries are on that journey, they can all play a role in ensuring their users can make informed decisions about the environmental choices they are making.
Taking place from 2-8 October, libraries everywhere are being encouraged to get involved and share the work they are doing to deliver a sustainable future for all. Green Libraries Week is not only aimed at show- casing projects and events to the public, but also an opportunity to promote services and impact to key decision-makers – it is a real chance to engage and advocate.
And as with previous Libraries’ Weeks, this year’s celebration is easy to get involved with, and Libraries Week organisers are encouraging as many services as possible to join in. Participation is completely flexible, with options for each service – no matter how big or small, or which sector they are operating in. And to help plan your own celebration, the Green Libraries Week website has plenty of free advice and resources to make it a success.
These include posters and press releases that can be adapted for each library, tips on how to engage with key decision-makers (both internally and externally), and
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advice on how to evaluate the impact of your events. There is also an interactive map to share your partici- pation and find inspiration from other services. This year’s green theme is linked to CILIP’s wider activity around sustainability, which is a key part of its five-year action plan, We are CILIP, that was launched in early 2022. Sustainability and the environment will continue to be priority areas for CILIP’s work as it con- tinues to support members and the wider profession. Early this year CILIP held its first ever Green Librar- ies Conference, offering delegates a chance to discover more about the work that is happening in library and information services across the country. You can find more ways to get involved in upcoming green activities by joining the Green Library Network – just visit www.
cilip.org.uk/GreenLibrariesGetInvolved to find out more and to sign up.
CILIP’s main conference in 2022 also saw the launch of the Green Libraries Manifesto – a quick and easy way to get involved in ongoing work to secure a greener future for communities through the work of libraries, library staff and volunteers. The manifesto calls for library and information services to “come together towards a shared vision: to lead by example through our own environmental actions and use our power and reach to inform and inspire people to take positive action and build resilience in the diverse communities we serve.”
You can sign the manifesto at
www.cilip.org.uk/greenlibrar- iesmanifesto.
Events already confirmed for this Green Libraries Week include planting sessions in Birmingham and Manchester; a library litter pick in Glasgow; talks on invasive species and greening your home in Cam- bridgeshire; and an information session for businesses looking to access green grants at Bromley Central Library. Add your event at
https://librariesweek.org.uk/ whats-on.
To find out more about how to get involved in this year’s Green Libraries Week, and for hints, resources, advice and inspiration visit
https://librariesweek.org.uk. IP
September 2023
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