Library Graduate Trainee Beth Walters explores how Newnham Library is marking Newnham’s Green Week.
It is impossible to read, watch or listen to the news today without finding stories about climate change. Climate change is very much an issue on everyone’s minds, and can make us feel anxious and overwhelmed by the challenges we face as a species.
Responding to global challenge: a library’s role
As a library, we believe that knowledge and education are some of the best ways we can equip ourselves to face new challenges. With the inspiring words and thoughts of activists in mind, one of my jobs as Library Graduate Trainee has been to curate a small display on the theme of climate change. The purpose of the display is to showcase some of our most interesting interdisciplinary resources on a topic, with borrowing and consulting strongly encouraged. This means it will remain dynamic and responsive to the interests of readers. You can find the display in the middle of the ground floor of the Yates Thompson library.
The Green Week display stands in juxtaposition to the beautiful old surroundings with contemporary ideas, thoughts, feelings and information. It doesn’t leave the past behind, however, as some of the books reflect on the origins of modern thought about our environment, sustainability and threat. Putting the collection together made me very aware of the different ways of reflecting upon climate change. We have poetry, non-fiction, fiction, DVDs, magazines and textbooks on the science, psychology, architecture, history and feelings about climate change.
Working towards sustainability
As part of Green Week – and indeed every week – we invite users of the library to make suggestions about ways we can be more environmentally conscious. We have already reduced the amount of plastic used to protect our books, we encourage users to bring in their own tightly-sealed, reusable drinks containers and supply wool blankets to keep users extra toasty! We are excitedly working with the gardeners to bring some plants into the library to, alongside their other benefits, help reduce static. Finally, it made me reflect upon how a library can be environmentally conscious at its core, sharing resources and encouraging co-operation, bringing new fewer items into the world as a result.
The generation of young people who are tasked with saving the world are being educated right now and as an educational institution we must equip them with the knowledge and resources they need to do so. If you have any recommendations, thoughts or questions about the display and beyond please email librarian@newn.cam.ac.uk – we’d love to hear from you.