The Massachusetts Library System is thrilled to announce that we’ve surpassed our goal of inspiring 50 libraries to host a program for Climate Preparedness Week (September 24-30, 2019). We’ve been partnering with Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW) on a collaboration led by Madeleine Charney, Research Services Librarian at the W.E. B. DuBois Library at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. This statewide project with over 90 events at 80 libraries in Massachusetts will result in communities that are better prepared for extreme weather and more socially resilient as well.
Thank you to all our libraries (and patrons) that are participating in Climate Preparedness Week! Check out this interactive map of libraries and other organizations hosting programs for Climate Preparedness Week. If your library’s program(s) isn’t listed on the CREW map or needs updating, please reach out to gideon@climatecrew.org.
To make Climate Preparedness Week an even greater success, please:
- Use the hashtag #ClimatePrepWeek2019 to spread word about your events.
- Send 1-3 photos of your event to Vernon Walker to be used for outreach.
- Print and share CREW’s climate resilience brochures at your event.
A special thanks to the devoted team of Blue Marble Librarians who have been shepherding this project: Madeleine Charney (UMass Amherst), Michelle Eberle (Massachusetts Library System), CJ Wong (Merrimack College), Gabrielle Griffis (Wellfleet Public Library), Chris Glass (Boston Public Library), Heather Diaz (Forbes Library), Ayoola White (Simmons), Catherine Carr (UMassMed School), and Jessica Kilham (UMassMed School). We also greatly appreciate our project partners at CREW: Craig Altemose, Rev. Vernon K. Walker, Mia Kania, and Aaron Troncoso, and Gideon Nachman.
Going Beyond Climate Preparedness Week
Following Climate Preparedness Week, Madeleine Charney and others will host three Zoom teleconferences for hosts and participants to explore next steps for libraries to partner with a range of community organizations including CREW. Details for the teleconferences can be found here and will also be announced on the All-Regions listserv. Join us in visioning and planning how libraries can further our work preparing our communities for extreme weather brought about by climate change.
We are stronger together!
