Climate action programming for school and public libraries

CHICAGO — Sustainability, one of the Core Values of Librarianship, is spurring libraries to lead the way in guiding their communities towards climate action. However, because people’s lives are affected every day by the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, engaging with the impacts of climate change can be an isolating and difficult experience for adults and youth alike. “Guiding Youth from Eco-Anxiety to Empowerment: Climate Action Programming for School and Public Libraries,” published by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and ALA Editions, emphasizes nurturing curiosity, action, and community-building. Written by Kelsey LaPort and Noel Reich, this hands-on guide offers a solution to cool down eco-anxiety by transforming it into a force for engagement and hope. Through programming that centers agency and belonging, librarians and educators can reframe the negative impacts of eco-anxiety into positive goals designed to inspire young people towards climate action. 

Presenting 60 research-based ideas and supporting resources designed to promote collaboration and partnership, the authors walk readers through concrete, adaptable steps to impactfully integrate climate action into programming regardless of a library's size or budget. This book:

• grounds its approach in the “triple bottom line” framework of sustainability used by ALA and the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI) while also aligning with the six Shared Foundations of the AASL Standards; 
• directly addresses the emotional realities of eco-anxiety such as apathy, fear, and isolation by offering strategies that foster connection and resilience;
• shows librarians and educators how to help K-12 learners develop the mindset, skills, and knowledge required to become climate-actionable;
• provides primary and secondary school library lessons, children and young adult public library programs, and collaborative programs for all ages that are geared towards curiosity, agency, community, and real-world impact; and
• includes book lists, information about activists and organizations, and links to additional resources.

LaPort is a Library Teacher in Sayville, New York. Kelsey was honored to be the second elementary librarian to become certified sustainable by the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI). She won the New York State Educational Media & Technology Association grant for Media Literacy. In 2023, she was selected to be part of the American Library Association’s Emerging Leaders cohort.

Reich is an Adult Services Librarian for the King County Library System in Redmond, Washington. Prior to relocating to Washington, Noel led the Long Island Library Pride Alliance (LILPA), which advocates for queer librarians and patrons across Long Island and New York State. Noel is the past Social Equity Chair of the Sustainability Committee at the Lindenhurst Memorial Library and a current member of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative. In 2023, she was selected to be part of the American Library Association’s Emerging Leaders cohort.

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library and information professionals worldwide. ALA Editions publishes resources used by library and information professionals, scholars, students, and educators to improve programs and services, build on best practices, enhance pedagogy, share research, develop leadership, and promote advocacy. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a variety of print and electronic formats. Contact ALA Editions at editionsmarketing@ala.org.