Learn how libraries across the United States have dealt with the effects of recent climate events in their communities and how their long-term commitment to climate action helped in a time of immediate need. You will leave this workshop with a framework to provide accurate information through programs and services while building relationships, trust and credibility in your community. Through group work you will be able to justify and advocate that library work is climate work. 

Since the American Library Association’s adoption of sustainability as a core value of librarianship in 2019 and recommitted to this value in 2024, this issue is rising in prominence not just among library professionals, but in society at large. On March 20, 2023, Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General stated, “We have never been better equipped to solve the climate challenge - but we must move into warp speed climate action now.” Climate action work can feel overwhelming, but libraries can lead the way towards impactful change. 

Learning objectives: 

• Learn why taking action on a global topic like climate change is a local issue. 
• Update a standard job description to include climate action work, using the knowledge learned in this session. 

At the end of this session, participants will be able to recommend best practices for collaborating with other institutions, organizations, and community stakeholders to maximize the impact of climate initiatives.