Libraries offer a key to action now and hope for the future

Sustainability was named a core value of our profession in 2019 and reconfirmed as such by the American Library Association in 2024. But why, after the list of core values had been relatively set in stone for decades, did sustainability suddenly make an appearance?

The answer lies in the harsh and complex truth surrounding the fact that climate change is real and wreaking havoc across every facet of life. The calls for climate action from scientists and policymakers are asking for that action to take place at an unprecedented speed and depth.

Human health and well-being. The built environment. Economic prosperity. Insurance. Food security. Human and animal migration patterns. The spread of disease. Climate change is negatively impacting it all. In the face of such a widespread challenge that affects every one of us, the only choice each of us has is to face it head-on and do what we can, from where we are, with what we have to offer. This requires us to move through the world with a new mindset and, perhaps, new focus, to embrace the idea that each decision we make contributes to the management of the current challenge and its mitigation for future generations.

Given the traditional role of librarians in every community, campus, and school to help navigate the information and education needs of patrons, scholars, and students, we are naturally well-positioned to help, but it is the role we play as catalysts for action that is most compelling in the context of our world today. Through modeling behavior and ethical decision-making while breaking down more complex barriers to information, and embracing opportunities to bring people together across many divides—that is where librarianship and climate work come together. We are the right people at the right time.

The profession is key to strong outcomes at this moment. From the preservation of critical data that scientists need to develop projections, models, and solutions; to the support of academics working quickly to protect health and habitats; to serving as models for strong decision-making at the community and individual levels—libraries find themselves in the literal and figurative eye of the storm. This gives me great pride in what we do, and gives me hope for the future.

Libraries are essential. This is something we have been able to prove throughout the history of our institutions. Our compass settings of access, equity, intellectual freedom and privacy, and serving the public good—the other four core values of the profession—are timeless. Our legacy as stewards of information, guides in navigating information, partners in literacies of all types, facilitators for connection to both knowledge and neighbors, and strong allies in our communities means we are what the world needs today and in the future. But, make no mistake, this is not “business as usual.” We must work deliberately, with great focus and urgency, to bring to bear the strengths of our profession so that we can help our communities withstand the tumultuous time we live in—and to do our best on behalf of the generations that come after us.

The current political landscape brings new challenges and, in many ways, seeks to distract us from the work at hand. You may be feeling overwhelmed by the volume of changes and concerned for your institution, neighbors, and family members. You may want to do all the things at once. But you are human, just like the rest of us. The work now is to prioritize in the face of the greatest threats and marshal the energy and resources to do what matters most.

“Safety first,” my husband always says. This is usually about ladder safety or driving during the height of deer season here in the northeast, but I apply it to many challenging situations, large and small, that I am faced with as a director in the workplace. This includes the existential threats brought on by climate change. We have a responsibility to play a role in community preparedness and recovery from hazards that threaten both our own lives and livelihoods and those of our neighbors.

Vigilance is part of this, but we must be smart about it. Rather than catastrophic thinking, I am seeking strategic thinking—sustainable thinking—to ensure libraries are relevant, responsive, and respected. This requires us to be part of the very real conversations going on to help confront the realities of climate change, resilience economies, and the unjust nature of who in our communities is most impacted.

At the end of the day, we do not only want to keep our heads above the waterline. We need to bring new and energetic life into the systems where we operate, to climb above the goal of sustainability and resilience to find our way to regenerative thinking.

At the end of the day, I think the answer to “Why Sustainability?” is, simply, hope: Hope for people who feel like this world is out of control. Hope for young people who want a better future for themselves. Hope for leaders in municipalities, higher education, schools, and many businesses who are doing their best to lead communities forward in safe, smart, and effective ways.

Hope for our profession, that we will continue to find ways to do what we are best at in the best support of humanity.

Rebekkah Smith Aldrich is Executive Director, Mid-Hudson Library System, Poughkeepsie, NY; cofounder of the award-winning Sustainable Libraries Initiative; a judge for LJ’s New Landmark Libraries; an LJ Mover & Shaker, and the principal author of the National Climate Action Strategy.