Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI)

The Springfield Town Library has joined the Sustainable Library Initiative’s Sustainable Libraries Certification Program. This program provides library leaders with a tested, structured path forward to increase their library’s commitment to environmental stewardship, economic feasibility, and social equity.

The Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI) is a member-driven organization dedicated to empowering library professionals to lead their communities toward a more resilient and sustainable future. Centered on the "triple bottom line" of sustainability—environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic feasibility—the initiative provides a structured path for academic, public, and school libraries to integrate these values into their facilities, operations, and programming. Key offerings include the award-winning Sustainable Library Certification Program, which guides institutions through a rigorous process of organizational change, as well as a robust community of practice featuring tools like carbon footprint calculators, vendor lists, and specialized webinars. Originally founded through the New York Library Association and now a national partner of the American Library Association, the SLI positions libraries as essential hubs for climate action and community-wide sustainability leadership.