"Libraries, librarians and library boards, and those that govern libraries are seeing the impacts of what's happening around them," says Matthew Bollerman, vice president of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI), and CEO of the Hauppauge Public Library on Long Island, New York. "They're dealing with wildfires and flooding, so their own libraries, their own institutions, are getting stressed by the weather and conditions that they're around. They're trying to find ways to think through that holistically."
After Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina on September 27, residents rushed to a familiar place that had one of the only working internet connections in the area. In the parking lot of the West Asheville Public Library, hundreds of people logged on to the system's Wi-Fi, password 'readmore.' Amid the catastrophic damage from extreme weather over the past few weeks, many people have found public libraries to be a refuge, from coordinating supply distribution to serving as meeting spots.
Across the country, libraries are adding services, making sustainability improvements, and launching initiatives to help communities adapt and respond to climate disasters. With 17,000 U.S. locations, and a majority of Americans within two miles from a branch, libraries are uniquely positioned to play this role.
Increasingly, libraries see themselves as more than just a place to escape into a good book. They're transforming into community hubs that not only provide access to information but also serve as a lifeline during crises, showcasing their resilience and adaptability in the face of increasing climate challenges.
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