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News & Announcements

Graphic image of the Earth with text that says "Whishing You a Happy Earth Month"

Need some inspiration? Check out Earth Month programming ideas Here!

Text: Climate Resilience 101 with Sami Aaron on April 7, 2023 at 12 pm Central. Hosted by SustainRT Education & Programming Committee

This webinar with Sami Aaron of The Resilient Activist will offer an overview of “Climate Anxiety” and “Climate Resilience,” exploring the growing emotional crisis arising from the fear, depression, and existential dread that more and more people are experiencing over climate change and its interconnected social justice impacts.

Topics will include:

● Definitions, new terms, and an understanding of the mental health impacts

● An understanding of how climate change affects various communities and age groups differently

● A list of resources, research, and reading materials that provide mental health and resilience support related to the climate crisis.

You’ll also have an opportunity to inform the focus areas of an in-person event (June 26) at ALA Annual.

2023 marks the 10th anniversary of SustainRT! We'd love for you to share your memories of being an SustainRT member. Do you have a memorable experience interacting with SustainRT members at a conference? Participated in a committee? Enjoyed and/or gained experience and inspiration from SustainRT events? Appreciate a service we provide? Let us know by filling out this short survey!

SustainRT Memories!

Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, member for 10 years: I am proud to have been a founding board member of SustainRT. It's amazing to see the shift in thinking SustainRT has been able to support throughout our association in that time. From the Resolution on the Importance of Sustainability to great resources and the creation of a strong community of practice for early adopters. It's so inspiring! The SustainRT strategic plan is holistic and respects the work done by the ALA Special Task Force on Sustainability which helps us all pull in the same direction. I'm just so excited to see the new generation of folks leading SustainRT!

Irina Holden, member for 4 years: It was a pre-COVID ALA conference in DC, in 2019. Uta [Hussong-Christian] organized a walk to the National Botanical Garden for the SustainRT. It was a hot June Saturday, so the group chose to walk around the conservatory. It was a terrific way to meet fellow SustainRT members from different parts of the country and just have fun looking at beautiful plants.

Photo by Irina Holden

Congratulations to the Oak Park Public Library!

The 2023 Citation for Wellness in the Workplace is awarded to the Oak Park Public Library in recognition of their commitment to wellness as a strategic priority. Last year, the Oak Park Public Library’s Well-Being Committee prioritized wellness through meaningful staff engagement programs like beekeeping training, monthly conversation groups, and Staff Engagement Day.

Beyond these programs, the intentional initiatives and policies supported by their leadership in recent years have improved staff’s work-life balance and encouraged professional development. In considering the holistic wellbeing of their staff, Oak Park Public Library has prioritized inclusive recruitment and hiring practices, implemented lifestyle spending accounts, and revised guidelines for flexibility at work.

Additionally, their intentional equity in providing professional development to all staff through programs like tuition grants and support for conference attendance demonstrates their ongoing commitment to the long-term wellbeing of their employees. SustainRT recognizes the lasting impact of turning wellness practice into policy and commends the culture of wellness that Oak Park Public Library is creating in their workplace with this citation.

Booklist & Sustainability Resources

Book Discussions by Liverpool Public Library

Book cover for Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappe

Book cover for The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

Book cover for The Third Plate by Dan Barber

Book Cover for In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

Join us for this short-term book discussion about food! This series exposes some of the pressing issues that lie on our plates. Discussions will be led by Avalon Gupta VerWiebe of Syracuse Onondaga Food Systems Alliance and may include guest speakers and cooking demonstrations.
If you would like to attend virtually, please choose virtual under registration. A link will be sent to you for Zoom participation.

Liverpool Public Library is pleased to present a unique book discussion series that will explore an aspect of our culture that often gets taken for granted: food. Food provides both nourishment and pleasure, of course, but under the surface of each meal lies a series of complex interactions and entanglements. Working with histories, novels, and journalism, this series exposes some of the issues that lie on our plates. Texts include historical accounts, novels, and narrative nonfiction, such as:

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan (March 15)
Diet for a Small Planet by Francis Moore Lappe (April 12)
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (May 10)
The Third Plate by Dan Barber (June 7)

This program is made possible through a Reading and Discussion Grant from Humanities New York.

Be on the lookout for Topic Discussions via ALA Connect

Every month, the Publicity and Outreach Committee will be posting a question or topic related to sustainability via ALA Connect. Come join the discussion!

Our discussion question for the month of March was:
What are some Earth Month programs you have done at your library in the past? Share your programming ideas!

Follow the thread at SustainRT’s Open Forum in ALA Connect to find out what others are doing and chime in with your own experience. Keep an eye out for our January question!

Do you have a sustainability topic you would like to see in these discussions? Email them to the Publicity and Outreach Committee chair Lauren Bissonette (lauren.bissonette@foresthistory.org).

SustainRT Outreach Request Form

Have a program you’d like to spread the word about to your fellow SustainRT colleagues? Let us know by filling in our SustainRT Outreach Form, and we’ll share the details on our outreach channels!

Follow us on social media using the links below!

SustainRT Blog

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