As one of the originators of resource sharing and responsible consumption, Scottish libraries (along with colleagues across the globe) are embracing their role in sustainable living. This is being reflected in internal policies and expansion of what can be borrowed to allow communities to share resources responsibly. As providers of trusted information, public libraries are equipping individuals with the facts they need to live more environmentally responsible lives.

Building on Erik Boekesteijns suggestion of a workshop together with the amazing Michael Edson “How can libraries and other cultural institutions facilitate better in saving the planet?”

I would  love to share our knowledge and experience on being a Climate Beacon on the run up to COP26 (Climate Beacons is a Scotland-wide collaborative project between climate change or environmental organisations and arts, heritage or cultural organisations to stimulate long-term public engagement in the lead-up to and following COP26) and how working with the Scottish Library and Information Council have looked to circular economy business models and how they can help libraries reduce their environmental impact, how the circular economy directly feeds into the climate change challenge.  I would love to showcase The “Lend and Mend” project  which plays very much to aims of FORWARD, the new public library strategy for Scotland public libraries and  will make a meaningful contribution to Scotland’s progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The £300,000 investment in public libraries is a great hand up to the community and the communities which they work in. In many ways the timing has never been better when there is renewed focus on sustainability and people are grappling with the cost of living crisis.

More info on the project and a video is available here:

https://www.circularfuturefund.co.uk/winners

Hearing from other Green Libraries who are challenging the climate crisis and sharing best practice and examples of practical changes that can help deliver positive outcomes would be wonderful. Together we can develop environmentally, socially and economically responsible solutions for the effective operational and service delivery moving forward.