Sustainable, Resilient, Regenerative

A Strategy for the Future of New York's Libraries

NYLA's Sustainability Initiative provides New York's library leaders with time and resources to articulate how libraries adapt to our changing world while, as co-creators, shape strategies that ensure libraries remain vital, rebound from disruption, and provide on-going value to the communities they serve.

Visit the new Sustainable Libraries Initiative website at sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org to join the Sustainable Library Certification Program, which provides library leaders from all types of libraries - academic, public and school - with a tested, structured path forward to increase your library’s commitment to environmental stewardship, economic feasibility, and social equity. 

As part of the program your team will work through multiple categories that help align your efforts with the triple bottom line. Actions within each category provide you with the opportunity to take a closer look at how things are done and/or consumed at your library and provide your team with the opportunity to think differently about how you will proceed on that issue in the future. As part of the program, you'll have access to a real live mentor, examples, inspiration, and “Pro Tips” along the way.

The Sustainable Thinking & Action Round Table (START) provides assistance to the NYLA Sustainability Initiative to facilitate discussion and guide work around sustainable thinking to create resources designed to mobilize libraries within their communities; plan related events and workshops for NYLA; and provide assistance to the NYLA Sustainable Library Certification Program.

START News

The Great Give Back is a statewide day of service made possible by libraries! Join us on October 17, 2020 to showcase the good work many libraries are already doing to connecting citizens willing to help with needs in their community – from cleaning up local parks and playgrounds, to holding Repair Cafes, to writing letters to soldiers and so much more! - and to highlight the public library’s evolving role as a community hub. 

This event is designed to help libraries get more visibility and good press for the great work they are usually already doing!

The Great Give Back was piloted statewide in October 17th, 2020 to expand this well-received initiative from Long Island to the rest of New York! Thank you to the Suffolk Cooperative Library System for sharing this opportunity with the rest of the state and the Public Library System Directors Organization of New York State for their financial support.