Resilient Communities
Libraries Respond to Climate Change
As part of Goshen Public Library’s participation in the ALA Resilient Communities program, we are highlighting ways you can get involved in our local community to adapt to and mitigate climate change:
Act
Reduce. Reuse. Refuse. Refill. Repair. Repurpose. Regift. Rethink. Reimagine.
Reduce Electricity Consumption
- Take the Home Energy Assessment
- Lower your thermostat
Invest in Alternative Energy
- Install solar
- Buy an electric car
Recycle and Purchase Less Plastic
Plant a Garden
- Rent garden space – Call the Goshen Parks Department at 574-534-2901
- Community gardens
Create a wildlife-friendly yard
- Watch the Gardening for Wildlife program presented by Master Gardener Loanne Harms
- Provide nesting material for birds: Bird Nesting Kits
Get a National Wildlife Federations’ Backyard Wildlife Certification
- A movement dedicated to help local wildlife and wild spaces
Compost
Use City Parks for Biking and Walking
Support Local Businesses Rather Than Purchasing From Far Away
Support Goshen’s Tree Canopy Goal
Participate
- Sunrise is made up of youth working towards climate justice in communities nationwide.
- sunrisegoshen@gmail.com
- Instagram: @sunrisegoshen
- A volunteer organization in Goshen to fund enhancements to Goshen’s urban forest
- Meeting in Goshen monthly, Goshen Green Drinks is a self-organized network focused on informal conversation around sustainability
- Located in Goshen, the Goshen Farmers Market is a market for locally grown and crafted products, to promote and educate about sustainability
- A consumer-owned, cooperative grocery store in Goshen
Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG)
- A voluntary organization of local governments to work on issues impacting the region
- a Goshen organization working toward individual, family and community empowerment through partnerships
- Take part in intergenerational action and education on climate change to inspire and advance sustainable, just, and peaceful living in Indiana
- Encourage Congress for a national bipartisan solution to climate change
- You can find opportunities to volunteer at places like Goshen Parks to help make the community a better place
Learn
Find books related to climate change at Goshen Public Library
Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment
- Learn how to communicate science of climate in a very local way
- Learn about the climate change disinformation campaign that Exxon Mobile started
Learn about Goshen Climate Action Plan
- Read the book Drawdown: the most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming by Paul Hawken
To view a recent GPL program discussing the film “Decoding the Weather Machine” and local efforts to adapt to and mitigate climate change click on the link below:
Watch the Climate Change Panel Discussion
This programming is a part of the Resilient Communities grant from American Library Association. Resilient Communities strives to raise awareness and provide accurate information about the climate change crisis to the public through libraries. The pilot project has been funded by a generous grant from Andrew and Carol Phelps, the parents of a public librarian and a library master’s student.
