How can libraries help steer communities toward resilience in the face of climate change? By being a robust vessel of information in the form of books, services and programs. What powers that vessel is the library’s role in a healthy social infrastructure.
In coming decades, towns and cities will spend a lot of money on new physical infrastructure in order to lessen the damage caused by escalating weather and a changing climate. But these mechanical systems may not fully climate-proof us. That’s why it is equally important to consider social infrastructure as part of our response to climate change.
Social infrastructure is not the same as social capital — which measures people’s relationships and networks — but encompasses the physical places that allow relationships to develop and flourish. Public institutions, such as libraries, schools, playgrounds and athletic fields are vital parts of the social infrastructure. When social infrastructure is vibrant, it fosters support and collaboration among friends and neighbors; but when depleted, it leaves families and individuals to fend for themselves. The difference can be huge when it comes to dealing with our changing climate, as it is safer and more effective to work together.
So, the library as an institution can both connect people to resources and connect people to each other in the name of forming a resilient community. And resiliency is what’s needed to understand and address climate change.
Libraries also collaborate with each other to cast a wider net in helping our communities. For instance, in recent years Massachusetts libraries have partnered with the Boston-based non-profit Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW), the result of which is Climate Preparedness Week. During this week — Sept. 23-29 — libraries and other municipal groups will host a range of programs and activities to bring people together on the subject of climate change.
The Tilton Library is not only proud to participate in this event but believes that it is essential to be a part of this conversation. We have a lineup of three programs, each with different perspectives and issues to discuss. All three offer potential solutions to some of the challenges associated with climate change.
Upcoming climate change related events
Thursday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. at the Tilton Library — Plastic Free, One Family’s Experience. Erika Zekos, an Amherst-based artist/architect and University of Massachusetts professor, along with her family, took on the challenge to live without plastic for a month, as posed by the Plastic Free July campaign. Erika will report on the successes and obstacles her family faced and how they are moving forward to eliminate plastic in their lives. For more information on this challenge, check out plasticfreejuly.org. Plastic Free July is a campaign led by the Plastic Free Foundation. Each year, millions of people around the globe take the challenge and choose to refuse single-use plastics. Our vision is to see a world without plastic waste.
Saturday, Sept. 28 at 9 a.m., at Deerfield Town Hall — Presentation by the Frontier Regional High School Environmental Initiative. This group of highly motivated and concerned high school students — Sadie Ross, Isabel Marrapese and Joe Thompson — which founded this initiative in 2017, will present how they formed as a club and what they have worked for in and outside of Frontier over the past few years. They will talk about lifestyle changes that they made, mostly pertaining to diet and going vegetarian/vegan for the environment. They are hoping it will show that if three teenagers can change their habits to benefit the environment, you can too. A variety of vegan cupcakes and recipes will be offered.
Saturday Sept. 28 at 11 a.m., at Deerfield Town Hall — The Good News and Bad News About Global Warming — University of Massachusetts Professor and world-renowned climatologist Dr. Raymond Bradley will talk about the causes and effects of global warming, what political decisions moved the needle in the wrong direction and what we can do to alleviate this situation. Dr. Bradley has written or edited thirteen books on climate change and has co-authored over 200 articles on the topic.
Wednesday Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. at the Sunderland Library — The Deerfield and Sunderland Energy Committees present the screening of the film, “Paris to Pittsburgh,” produced by National Geographic in 2018. The film’s website provides the following description: “Paris to Pittsburgh brings to life the impassioned efforts of individuals who are battling the most severe threats of climate change in their own backyards. Set against the national debate over the United States’ energy future — and the Trump administration’s explosive decision to exit the Paris Climate Agreement — the film captures what’s at stake for communities around the country and the inspiring ways Americans are responding. Spotlighting the cities, states, businesses and citizens taking action, ‘Paris to Pittsburgh’ explores the very real social and economic impacts of climate change-fueled disasters, from America’s heartland to the nation’s coastlines. The film features voices from local leaders as well as everyday Americans presenting the stories behind climate-related recovery and resiliency, as well as tireless innovative efforts to reduce carbon emissions, including boomtowns formerly reliant on coal such as Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, led by Mayor Bill Peduto, who stood up to defy President Trump when he announced the U.S.’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, is now a city committed to energy efficiency and is one of the many examples of bold economic and climate leadership in the film. Other locations featured in the film include Puerto Rico, California, Iowa, Florida and New Jersey.” The film will be followed by a brief panel discussion featuring local experts.
Thursday, Sept. 26, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Northfield Public Library — Let’s Make a Plan … for Extreme Weather. Be ready before winter hits. Tracy Rogers will help patrons prepare for the next emergency: prepping a go-kit, how to shelter in place, what docs/meds to prep and how to care for pets. Northfield Library Environmental Discussion Group is designing an interactive display asking people to relate — by filling out a hand-shaped paper — what actions they are now taking, or thinking of taking, to “lend a hand” to reduce their carbon footprint. (Other Climate Prep Week events taking place across the state can be viewed on CREW’s website, climatecrew.org/2019_events.)
Candace Bradbury-Carlin is director of the Tilton Public Library in South Deerfield.
