The American Library Association has called climate change the “greatest challenge of our generation.” In partnership with the Mid-Hudson Library System and Ramapo Catskill Library System, Sustainable Hudson Valley has designed a program of action planning, training and support for libraries as living laboratories for climate resilience in their communities. This will help library leadership make their facilities energy-secure, safe and comfortable in extreme weather, and position them to serve as community hubs for education and action projects to help their surrounding neighborhood deal with climate change.

This cohort program includes 4-sessionsto facilitate participants’ understanding of climate resilience needs and opportunities at and around their locations, and the participatory approaches to working with local stakeholder partners to capture these opportunities. This series is designed as a cohort, and is open to RCLS and MHLS member libraries. Ideally, participants will attend all four sessions together. Teams from individual libraries are encouraged.

Session 1: Virtual Assessment and Engagement: A Place-based Framework for Assessing Vulnerability and Opportunity.

This process begins with a review of climate trends and approaches to resilience, then moves into an assessment of the library facility and surrounding public spaces, to be done by staff, board members, Friends Groups and other supporters, in order to develop a thorough understanding of the physical characteristics of the place

Participants will receive 2 CE credits for attending this session. This session does not count towards trustee education.