For the 50th anniversary of Earth Day in 2020, ALA’s Sustainability Round Table set out to encourage libraries to participate with a list of fun and actionable ideas. The project — called “50 for 50,” with a goal set of 50 ideas — resulted in dozens of entries submitted by SustainRT members and friends over the coming year.
Do you ever wish you could be a fly on a wall for another library's programs? You're in luck. Dropping in on other libraries' events is easy in our current virtual programming reality.
The past few years have seen the rise of powerful and inspiring young activists rallying for systemic change and legislative action to address the climate crisis, with groups like the Sunrise Movement advocating for a Green New Deal and the now-famous climate striker Greta Thunberg named Time Magazine’s 2019 Person of the Year.
If you’re missing nature or feeling a little claustrophobic these days, you’re not alone. Across the world, COVID-19 has thrown a wrench into springtime plans, from spring break camping trips to strolls through urban parks.Â
With the 50th anniversary of Earth Day this Wednesday, April 22, libraries can still offer ways for their patrons to celebrate nature safely. Below are some of low-risk, easy ways you can encourage your community to remember the planet this week.
Over the past few weeks, the world has been engaged in what cultural anthropologists call “world making,” an experimentation and reimagining of systems, relationships and activities often birthed from extreme circumstances. Catalyzed by social distancing, libraries are transitioning activities online/indoors/away from groups. Flexibility and creativity are the order of the day.
The Springfield-Greene County Library District has hosted an annual How-To Festival since 2016. In 2020, the How-To Festival will be dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.Â
The average American throws away more than four pounds of garbage each day. That's a lot of pill bottles and pickle jars that could end up in a landfill.
But thanks to a partnership with our local waste prevention program, North Olympic Library System gave new life to cast-off trash and got people thinking about how they can reduce waste.
Being eco-friendly has taken center stage in recent years. Many library users want to make more sustainable choices but may lack the knowledge of how to do so. Programs focused on "going green" are a fun, accessible way for patrons to celebrate Earth Day, and they can also be an easy lift for a busy librarian. Below are eight eco-friendly program ideas that you can use to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with hardly any prep work at all.
Enticing patrons to attend lectures on climate change and sustainability can be a real challenge. It’s hard to deny: these topics can be a real downer.
But there are ways to make learning about the environment fun. This was my goal when I set out to create my library’s Earth Day programming last year.
2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, an initiative started in 1970 to encourage action to protect the environment. Planning Earth Day programs at your library is a surefire way to show support for environmental awareness in your community and can introduce patrons to resources and skills for getting involved.Â
Earth Day may have already passed, but there are so many ways to celebrate and show respect for our planet throughout the year. Check out Billion of Acts of Green, a worldwide enviromental movement that is helping to protect the Earth for future generations. Their site has a ton of great resources and ideas to help you take action all year long, like using a sustainable mode of transportation for your commute to work.Â
