PLA Webinar

Libraries as Climate Resilience Hubs:

Working with Your Community to Take Action

Wednesday, July 13, 2022 | 1:00–2:00 p.m. Central

The impacts of climate change are already being felt by communities across the world. By embedding sustainable decision making into their policies and actions, libraries can become leaders in building community resilience against threats due to climate change. In this webinar, members of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI) will present case studies from libraries that show how sustainable best practices can be promoted as a model for other community organizations and bring about transformational change. Register now!

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Understand how to work towards making their libraries and communities more resilient in the face of climate change;
• Identify community organizations to partner with to plan for weather- and climate-related effects in their community; and
• Understand the unique position of libraries as leaders in their community by demonstrating organizational decision making that addresses the current and future impacts of climate change.

Panelists

Matthew Bollerman is the CEO of the Hauppauge (NY) Public Library. Matt previously was director at the Westhampton Free Library in Westhampton Beach, NY, where he helped construct a new $7.8 million LEED Gold building that was recognized by Library Journal in their “New Landmark Libraries” issue. Named a Library Journal Mover & Shaker in 2020, Matt was also recognized by the New York Library Association with their 2014 Outstanding Service to Libraries Award. Matt is co-founder of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative and the American Library Association (ALA) Sustainability Roundtable Councilor. He is passionate about public libraries’ ability to help regenerate their communities.

Annemarie Gordon is the sustainability coordinator for the Sustainable Libraries Initiative and the Suffolk Cooperative Library System in Bellport, NY. A recent graduate of University at Buffalo’s MILS program, she has served as a library trustee and worked in libraries as an AmeriCorps member.

Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MLS, LEED AP, is the executive director of the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) in Poughkeepsie, NY. Prior to this role, Rebekkah was the MHLS coordinator for library sustainability, assisting sixty-six member libraries in the areas of governance, management, funding, and facilities since 1998. Rebekkah is a certified Sustainable Building Advisor (NaSBA), Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP), and holds an advanced certificate in Public Library Administration from the Palmer School of Library and Information Science at Long Island University.

Rebekkah is the library sustainability columnist for Library Journal; author of Sustainable Thinking: Ensuring Your Library’s Future in an Uncertain World and Resilience, both published by ALA Editions; and author of the Handbook for New Public Library Directors in New York State and co-author of the Handbook for Library Trustees in New York State. She is a Library Journal Mover & Shaker and chair of the ALA Council Committee on Sustainability.