Libraries across the sector can use Climate Action Week to coordinate action on the climate change related challenges and emergencies facing our communities. CAW encourages libraries to host climate programs, displays, and other initiatives all in the final days of September (Sept 23-29) as people all around the world participate in Global Climate Actions and prepare for the annual United Nations Climate Change COP.
List of Participating Libraries:
- Emily Carr University of Art + Design
- Fraser Valley Regional Library
- Kaslo & District Public Library
- Nelson Public Library
- New Westminster Public Library
- Salt Spring Island Public Library
- Surrey Libraries
- Trail & District Public Library
- University of British Columbia
- Vancouver Public Library
- West Vancouver Memorial Library
Specific Inspiration from 2022 Participants:
Displays:
- Books on the Climate Crisis along with copies of Climate Action Toolkits in English, Farsi & Simplified Chinese (West Vancouver Memorial Library)
- Books on Food Systems and Permaculture (University of British Columbia’s Woodward Science Library)
Booklists:
- Climate Action Week Reading List (Fraser Valley Regional Library)
- Climate Action Week Reading List – Kids (Fraser Valley Regional Library)
- Climate Future Recommended Reading (West Vancouver Memorial Library)
- Recommended Reads by Katłįà Lafferty, Climate Writer in Residence (West Vancouver Memorial Library)
- Climate crisis reading podcast to be added to our ReadRadio channel during CAW (Fraser Valley Regional Library)
Subject guides:
- Environment & Sustainability (West Vancouver Memorial Library)
- Emergency Preparedness (West Vancouver Memorial Library)
- Extreme Heat (West Vancouver Memorial Library)
- Sea Level Rise (West Vancouver Memorial Library)
- Wildfire Smoke (West Vancouver Memorial Library)
- UBC Climate Action Week (University of British Columbia Library)
- Climate Change Research Guide (University of British Columbia Library)
- Climate Change in the Okanagan Research Guide (University of British Columbia Library)
Passive activities, events, collection highlights, & other initiatives:
- Create passive displays that invite patrons to borrow resources and write down climate action commitments (Vancouver Public Library)
- Advocate/promote climate-related demonstrations or host placard making workshop (Emily Carr University of Art + Design)
- Collect cards from a sustainability bingo challenge (Emily Carr University of Art + Design)
- Write shelf talkers for recommended books and activate resources
- Recycling and collection programs (Emily Carr University of Art + Design)
- Internal challenge related to food and food systems (University of British Columbia)
- Feature local artist in meeting room exhibit of climate-related art (Salt Spring Island Public Library)
- Host StoryWalk of a climate-aware kids book, such as Greta and the Giants by Zoe Tucker (Salt Spring Island Public Library)
Active programs with staff facilitator present:
- Offering library space to host workshops. E.g. mending workshops with technicians from our textiles and electronics shops.
- Sustainable farming workshops
- Film screenings E.g. Walking with Plants documentary film screening (West Vancouver Memorial Library)
- Presentation and facilitated discussion on civic engagement and climate change (University of British Columbia)
- Electric bike tips and safety seminar
- Webinar on air travel emissions and offsets featuring a guest researcher and the UBC Library Air Travel Decision Tree (University of British Columbia Library)
- Online program via Zoom with Dr. Kyle Merritt, speaking about the intersection of climate change and human health (Kootenay Libraries Programming)
- Host a teen discussion forum around what it means to be part of a climate action movement. Include a short reading (e.g. All We Can Save), some educational content, and time for sharing ideas (Salt Spring Island Public Library)
- Host a poetry reading. Include local poets and climate change themes (Salt Spring Island Public Library)
- Host family friendly presenters or authors about endangered animals and conservation (Salt Spring Island Public Library)
- Gwynne Dyer presents Planetary Maintenance Engineers (Fraser Valley Regional Library)
Climate Action Week Home | Participating Libraries | Shared Ideas and Resources