Sustainable California Libraries

Application period for the 2025-26 program year opens January 8, 2025!

Sustainable California Libraries grants fund climate and sustainability programming for adults and intergenerational groups.

220+

public programs delivered

Photo of a man standing inside a library, talking about Plastic Pollution and Solutions exhibit.
8,800+

community members attended programs

Photo of a group of five adults at a table, mending sweaters.
35+

new or stronger community partnerships and connections

Photo of a large group of people inside a large space, sitting at tables, with an instructor at the front

Statistics above for Sustainable California Libraries projects FY 2023-2024.

Purpose

Most Californians say climate change is a threat to the economy and quality of life for California’s future. Libraries are community hubs that respond to local concerns and interests, from reducing food waste, to community disaster preparedness, to supporting biodiversity.

Sustainable California Libraries projects focus on:

  • Climate education
  • Citizen science and conservation
  • Environment-focused civic engagement
  • Programs and services that support local climate resilience, mitigation and adaptation

Programs and services are based on community needs and interests, and may include:

  • Workshops on compost, native gardens and reducing food waste
  • Repair and mending events
  • Climate conversations
  • Environment-focused storytimes
  • Seed and tool libraries
  • Much more

The Sustainable California Libraries grants are Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funded. They meet Goal 4 of the California LSTA Investment Plan 2023–2027: Strengthen equitable resource-sharing and access to information, services, and opportunity with an emphasis on local community strengths and challenges.

An ongoing project that I can come back to and feel connected to my library and community.

Program participant

I want to be healthier and happier and how amazing that the library offers this opportunity to help me get there for free!!

Program participant

The workshops and facility tours provided an opportunity to learn from local experts in energy production and wastewater treatment, while offering pragmatic suggestions on how community members can, individually and collectively, make a positive impact on our environment.

Pam Close Bold, Executive Director, High Sierra Energy Foundation (Project Partner, Mono County Free Libraries)

With the global pandemic there has been a huge increase in gardening. It has always been my wish that every gardener is also a seed saver as a means to increase biodiversity and move toward regional seed sovereignty.

Kalan Redwood, Redwood Seeds (Project Partner, Shasta County Libraries)

Resources

The Resources for Sustainable California Libraries Projects page contains tools, resources, program and partner ideas, and more.

Current and Past Projects

From 2022 to present, 41 Sustainable California Libraries projects supported climate and sustainability programs in communities throughout the state.

South Pasadena Public Library Greening South Pasadena Program with Matthew Teutimez

Equity Advisors

Through the Networking Resources in California Libraries partnership project, Sustainable California Libraries grant recipients work with trained Equity Advisors to build a shared understanding of equity principles and practices to ensure that programs are designed, implemented, and evaluated with equity at their center.

Contact

Email sustainability@library.ca.gov with questions or comments.

#SustainableCALibraries

This project is supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.