[SLI-Newsletter] Comsewogue Public Library is Certified Sustainable

Thu Jan 13 11:11:51 EST 2022

<https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/news/congratulations-comsewogue-
public-library> 

For Immediate Release

January 13, 2022

Comsewogue Public Library is Certified Sustainable

The Sustainable Libraries Initiative recognizes the Comsewogue Public
Library as a leader in sustainability.

            Suffolk County, New York - January 13, 2022 -
<https://www.cplib.org/> Comsewogue Public Library in Port Jefferson
Station, New York, has been certified as a "Sustainable Library" through the
<https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/> Sustainable Libraries
Initiative's award-winning Sustainable Libraries Certification Program. This
ground-breaking initiative guides libraries through a step-by-step process
to infuse
<https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/media/glossary#page=4> triple
bottom line sustainable decision-making into their library's policies and
actions.

            Through Comsewogue Public Library's participation in the
Sustainable Libraries Certification Program, they have strengthened their
existing community partnerships and expanded into new collaborations. The
library staff are keenly aware of the needs of their community, although not
always able to directly meet them. Forging partnerships with other agencies
allows Comsewogue Public Library to leverage this insight and align their
services to involve partnering community organizations to ensure that their
community's current and emerging needs are met. The ability to bring
agencies and resources together highlights Comsewogue Public Library's
prominent role in establishing and maintaining a thriving and resilient
community.

The Sustainable Libraries Certification designation demonstrates to their
community that decision making based on the triple bottom line principles
can have lasting and tangible benefits. Comsewogue Director, Debbie
Engelhardt, stated:

 "Everything we do now is looked at differently. Purchases, procedures,
policies are put through the Triple Bottom Line lens. We want to be
Environmentally Sound, Socially Equitable and Economically Feasible in our
decision making."

As the library administration and staff worked through the rigorous
benchmarking process, they reduced their greenhouse gas consumption through
the installation of LED lighting fixtures, new HVAC units, a white roof, and
an EnergyStar-rated water heater. Shredding and recycling events open to the
community diverted 3720 gallons of paper and 1349 pounds of eWaste from the
landfill. Energy and water savings information was broadcasted to the staff
and community, with a representative from PSEG, the community's energy
provider, offering information and energy savings tips to library users.
Additionally, they collaborated with the Town of Brookhaven to provide a
receptacle for the community to continue to recycle glass after household
pickup was discontinued.  

To promote empathy and respect for all members of their diverse community,
cultural competency training was offered to the staff and the library's
program offerings included several engaging programs that celebrate the
variety of multi-cultural heritages of those they serve. The library set
clear objectives in a new Collection Development Policy that sets out to
promote literacy and inclusivity, encourage freedom of expression, and
support their community's interests. They have worked to expand their
residents' access to government services by hosting senior advocates, job
fairs, and "Claim Your Unclaimed Funds" program. Reflecting on the
certification program, Debbie Bush, Children's & Teen Librarian, stated, "I
believe our community better understands how we operate and sees our library
as a sustainable leader in the community."

International Impact

            Comsewogue Public Library is among the first libraries to
participate in the Sustainable Libraries Certification Program, the first of
its kind in the world. This benchmarking program was developed to assist
libraries of all kinds - public, academic, and individual school librarians
- to create opportunities to make better choices on behalf of the local and
global community.

The program has been recognized by the International Federation of Library
Associations at their 2019 World Congress in Athens, Greece, becoming the
first program in the United States to be honored through their "Green
Libraries" Award.

Comprehensive Approach

            With categories of actions focusing on each of the three pillars
of triple bottom line sustainability such as Energy, Indoor Spaces, Social
Cohesion, and Resilience Planning, this comprehensive process leads a
library toward institutional change that shifts the rationale for every
decision to consider the local and global impacts. Through this program,
libraries work with their communities to listen and learn, allowing local
needs to be identified and addressed. Strengthening the relationship between
the library and the community they serve builds resilience through stronger
connections with many organizations and increased access to information. 

The path to certification through the Sustainable Libraries Certification
Program is designed to be flexible for libraries of different types, sizes,
and budgets and guided by the communities they serve. Each library that
completes the program will select the benchmarks that best fit the needs of
their library and community, resulting in a uniquely sustainable
organization. Find out more information through our website (
<https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org>
https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org) or contact
sliadmin at suffolknet.org.

The Sustainable Libraries Initiative is expanding to enroll libraries
throughout the United States, with nearly fifty libraries currently enrolled
in the Sustainable Libraries Certification Program. Comsewogue Public
Library is the ninth library to be certified through this program. Read more
about Comsewogue Public Library's Certification on the
<https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/news/congratulations-comsewogue-
public-library> Sustainable Libraries Initiative's website news
announcement.

For more information, please contact:

Annemarie Gordon, Sustainability Coordinator

 <https://sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/> Sustainable Libraries
Initiative

 <https://portal.suffolklibrarysystem.org/node/32703> Suffolk Cooperative
Library System

631-286-1600 x1355

 <mailto:sliadmin at suffolknet.org> mailto:sliadmin at suffolknet.org

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