Community Change-makers | Libraries and Positive Climate Action

This event, originally titled 'Libraries and Positive Climate Action: Community Change-makers', took place on 05 December 2024. The information below is correct as of the publication date.

This webinar explores ways libraries can facilitate climate action through community programming.

The British Library is hosting a series of webinars focused on libraries and the climate crisis. The aim of the series is to bring together international library leaders to share their different responses to the climate emergency.

This webinar focuses on practical examples of libraries working with their communities on climate-related programming across the world. This includes collaborations with other local organisations, projects designed to improve climate literacy, and improving access to green spaces.

Discover more of our climate webinar series at our playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcM3hEgp2RYA

To understand more about the British Library's work on sustainability and climate change, visit our website: https://www.bl.uk/about/sustainability

The speakers for this event include:

Kristina Čunović is a librarian consultant, the Director of the Public Library "Ivan Goran Kovačić" Karlovac and a lecturer at the Center for Continuing Professional Development of Librarians at the National and University Library in Zagreb, where she co-authored the course and webinar "Developing Library Services to Encourage Early and Family Literacy". She initiated the launch of the Green Library, a dislocated branch of the Public Library "Ivan Goran Kovačić" Karlovac, which officially opened in 2023. The department is located in the AQUATIKA freshwater aquarium in Karlovac and was created in cooperation between the library and the Aquarium with a goal to connect users and offer a place for education and the promotion of nature conservation.

Jens Geißler holds a degree in Library and Information Management from the University of Applied Science Hamburg and has been library manager at Bad Oldesloe City Library since 1997. He is active on a number of regional library boards, including the Schleswig-Holstein Library Association (Büchereiverein Schleswig-Holstein) and the regional committee of the German library association (DBV). Jens has a keen interest in silent films, improvisational theatre and cycling with all kinds of bikes.

Tim Schumann started working in libraries as a library assistant in 2004, after which he studied History (B.A.) and Library and Information Science (M.A.). Since 2018 he has been head of the Heinrich Böll Library in Berlin-Pankow. His work focuses on changing public libraries, green libraries and community building.

Diana Lee has over 24 years of experience at Toronto Public Library and is in her dream library job as the Senior Services Specialist, Programs & Event. She oversees various system-wide programs for adults such as Personal Finance, Small Business and TPL's environmental program series Our Fragile Planet. With a focus on environmental protection and conservation, this series also includes the work of the Environmentalist in Residence.

Kashtin Fitzsimons is Director of the West Toronto Ontario Health Team (WTOHT) – a network of thirty-eight health and social service agencies operating in the West Toronto community working to integrate care in partnership with patients, families, caregivers and other providers. Kashtin holds a Masters of Science in Health Quality, Risk and Safety from Queen's University. Before leading the West Toronto Ontario Health Team, Kashtin led the Quality, Risk and Safety department at Circle of Care and oversaw the Quality portfolio at Amica Senior Lifestyles. WTOHT works with Toronto Public Library to offer programs that address climate anxiety as part of the Our Fragile Planet (OFP) program series.

Nesa Fröhlich is the Head of Information Services for Sub-Saharan Africa at the Goethe-Institut in Johannesburg. She oversees various programmes, including interdisciplinary initiatives in Robotics and Gaming, as well as library and literature projects, aimed at enhancing cultural exchange and supporting local communities.

The session is chaired by Maja Maricevic, Chair of the UK Green Libraries Partnership. Maja Maricevic is Director of Science and Innovation at the British Library. Maja is particularly interested in the big challenges of our time, such as the continuing digital transformation and climate change. Maja chairs the UK Green Libraries Campaign, a partnership of UK libraries working towards a better future for planet and people. Maja is an Advisory Board Member for the UK Research and Innovation programme Building a Greener Future. She is also a Board member of London’s Knowledge Quarter. She has previously worked in universities, government departments and as a professional consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers.