Wilton Public Library has enrolled in a national sustainability certification program designed to help libraries become more environmentally sound.
The Sustainable Library Certification Program (SLCP), a project of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI), was created by members of the New York Library Association and American Library Association as a way to structure libraries’ commitment to the triple bottom line of sustainability: being environmentally sound, socially equitable, and economically feasible.
Wilton Public Library is only the second library in Iowa to enroll in the national program, which asserts that libraries “play an important role in larger community conversations about resiliency, climate change, and a sustainable future.
The Initiative is designed to provide the tools and resources library leaders need to incorporate sustainability as a core value in their work.”
The SLCP consists of over 100 action items—from switching to eco-friendly supplies to developing a net-zero energy plan—across twelve categories: Organizational Commitment; Energy; Materials Management: Waste & Recycling; Materials Management: Purchasing; Transportation; Land Use; Water; Collective Impact; Social Cohesion; Community Resilience; Financial Sustainability; and Collections.
Many of the action items were already in progress, but by formally enrolling in the program, “we’re holding ourselves accountable and being transparent in our commitment” to make better choices about our materials and purchasing, said Kristi Hager, Director at Wilton Public Library.
“I’m sure we’ve all noticed how the weather has changed, even in the seven years since I moved to Iowa. Our goal in joining this program is to bring to light the issues and solutions we can take as individuals to combat the effects of climate change, and provide our community with tools and inspiration to take action,” Hager continued.
“Libraries, as town centers, are in a natural and unique position to model sustainable practices in their communities. We plan to host programs and provide resources that reflect these ideas and help the people in our community, but with the additional knowledge that our decisions are having an impact in and beyond the city of Wilton.”
The Library has created a webpage to document its sustainability journey at https://www.wilton.lib.ia.us/about/sustainability.