Participating Libraries

Libraries and other educational and cultural organizations 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 as people all around the world prepare for the annual United Nations Climate Change COP.

Contact the Climate Action Week planning committee to let us know you will be participating and share your ideas and plans: [email protected]

LIST OF PARTICIPATING LIBRARIES IN 2023:

B.C.

  • Burnaby Public Library
  • Bowen Island Public Library
  • Coquitlam Public Library
  • Creston Valley Public Library
  • Douglas College Library
  • Emily Carr University of Art + Design Library
  • Fraser Valley Regional Library
  • Gibsons & District Public Library
  • Greater Victoria Public Library
  • Langara College Library
  • Nelson Public Library
  • New Westminster Public Library
  • North Vancouver City Library
  • North Vancouver District Public Libraries
  • Okanagan Regional Library, Salmon Arm Branch
  • Richmond Libraries
  • Royal Roads University Library
  • Salt Spring Island Public Library
  • Sechelt Public Library
  • Squamish Public Library
  • Surrey Libraries
  • University of British Columbia Library
  • University of the Fraser Valley
  • University of Northern British Columbia (Geoffrey R Weller Library)
  • University of Victoria Libraries
  • Vancouver Island University Library
  • Vancouver Public Library
  • West Vancouver Memorial Library
  • Whistler Public Library

Alberta

  • Camrose Municipal Library
  • Hinton Municipal Library
  • Strathcona County Library

Ontario

  • Elgin County Library
  • Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) Library, University of Toronto Libraries
  • Whitby Public Library
  • Wilfrid Laurier University Library

Saskatchewan

  • Biggar Lionel A. Jones Wheatland Regional Library
  • Moose Jaw Public Library

Inspiration

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:

Subject guides:

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)
  • Print and share the Read4Climate rack card and/or posters (Fraser Valley Regional Library)
  • Lend health- , nature- and sustainability-related collections. Fraser Valley Regional Library is lending air quality monitors, energy meters, solar panels, thermal leak detectors, nature packs, bat packs, birdwatching backpacks. and more.

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)
  • Green Burials with Sustainable Cemetary – Heritage Gardens,  programs at Fraser Valley Regional Library

Join the Conversation

Check out what everyone is discussing over on the forum Climate Action Committee. Must be a member of BCLA or a forum member to view & discuss.