In communities across the country, libraries play an important role in building community resilience to climate change. Libraries serve as accessible community spaces that foster knowledge building and civic engagement. In small communities, local libraries play an especially crucial role as a community gathering space.
In this installment of our TCTAC Webinar Series for Small Municipal Governments, we’ll hear from two communities where libraries nurtured climate action with support from federal grants. First, Librarian Brenda Harrington and Sarah Kirn from Belfast, Maine will share about how the Belfast Free Library won an Institute for Museum and Library Services grant to fund the All of Belfast: Climate Dialogues. The program engaged a broad range of Belfast residents in conversations about climate change and documented the communities’ ideas and priorities for climate action. The findings from the project helped inform the city’s climate action plans. Next, Former Mayor Jill Boudreau from Mt. Vernon, WA will tell us about the Mt.Vernon Library Commons, a $53 million project funded by several federal grants. The space includes a children’s library, public kitchen, community center, and electric vehicle charging stations. The project has been lauded for its sustainability elements and for the amenities it brings to a disadvantaged community.
This webinar will also highlight the EJ TCTAC program, through which municipalities, tribes and community-based organizations can access free technical assistance to win funding and make meaningful environmental progress locally.
This webinar is sponsored by the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center Program and hosted by International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA), the National League of Cities (NLC), and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN).
