Earth Day is celebrated each year on April 22nd, as a way to remind the world of our planet’s value and consider what we can do to take better care of it. Scroll down for some ideas on how to appreciate, protect, and support the environment, and build good sustainability habits for the future!
Use the Library of Things
One library collection that can help you reduce your consumer footprint on the world is our “Library of Things”, which refers to any items available for checkout that are not your usual books, movies, periodicals, and digital items. At Medfield, we have arts & crafts gear; camping and outdoor items; cleaning equipment; household & vehicle tools; movie, music, photography, & video gaming gear; office equipment; and tabletop/lawn games.
Many of the items we offer are things you may need, but may only use once or twice. Think: vehicle code readers, air quality detectors, or orbit sanders. Without a lending library, an individual may purchase these kinds of tools for themselves as the need arises. But when community members have access to a communal library of such items, it creates an economy or sharing rather than owning. Over time, this means:
- fewer items need to be manufactured and packaged to meet demand,
- less energy is used for shipping, and
- fewer items are disposed of when the individual need dissipates or the item becomes obsolete.
Or consider it this way. Perhaps you are interested in investing in a piece of kitchen equipment, like an induction cooktop or a stand mixer, but you’re not 100% sure it’s worth it. Checking out a similar item from the Library of Things for a test drive will help you determine whether it’s worth owning. And if you decide against it, you not only save yourself the expense, but also cut out the energy required to pick up/ship it/return it and eliminate the number of unused things sitting around that eventually get thrown out.
Browse our full Library of Things here.
Library of Things: Camping & Outdoor Gear
Spend time outside gardening or camping with gear from our lending library
Visit the Seed Library
This spring, the library will set up our annual Seed Library! Patrons will have access to one packet of seeds per person, for plants like sunflowers, ornamental corn, and all sorts of vegetables. The seed library will be available as part of our browsable Library of Things, next to the New Books section.
Gardening Books
Develop your green thumb with these guides, focused on everything from growing native flowers to kitchen gardens.
Birdwatching Books
Get to know the species of birds in your backyard with these field guides and bird books.
Books for Eco-conscious Hobbies
Learn how to make a T-shirt quilt, reuse textiles for knitting, create eco-friendly cleaning products, and more.
Vegetarian & Vegan Cookbooks
These vegetarian and vegan recipes are both healthy and delicious, and a vegetable-forward diet can reduce your carbon footprint.
Books about Appreciating Nature
These titles will help you take a look around you to better appreciate the natural world.
MPL’s Eco-centric Book Club Picks
Consider joining our monthly discussions! The group meets every third Thursday at 6:30pm. Check our events calendar for details.
Books about the Science of Climate Change
The field of climate science can be overwhelming to think about. Learn more from these experts.
Help Kids Understand Climate Change
These books will help you start conversations about climate change with your youngsters, and help them build a strong appreciation for our planet.
