Sustainability
Our focus is to minimize the library's ecological footprint through initiatives such as energy conservation, recycling, and sustainable purchasing practices. We also intend to promote sustainability through outreach and offer programming in order to involve library patrons and the greater community in learning about, enhancing and enjoying our sustainability efforts. We feel these efforts are important since many other libraries are pursuing a broad range of sustainability initiatives, and sustainability has been one of the American Library Association’s five core values since 2019.
Sustainability at the Milne
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Heat Pumps: We have heat pumps and mini-splits strategically installed throughout portions of the building to enhance temperature control and improve overall energy efficiency. These systems work to supplement our existing heating and cooling infrastructure, ensuring a more comfortable environment for both patrons and staff. While they have been a valuable addition, further expansion may be necessary to achieve optimal climate regulation across the entire facility.
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Solar Panels: As part of our commitment to sustainability, our library has embraced renewable energy with the installation of solar panels. These panels harness the power of the sun to generate clean, efficient electricity, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and lowering our overall carbon footprint. By integrating solar energy into our operations, we are not only cutting energy costs but also setting an example of environmental stewardship for our community. This initiative reflects our dedication to creating a more sustainable future while continuing to provide vital resources in an eco-friendly space.
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Pollinator Garden: Our library is proud to host a dedicated pollinator garden at the entrance of the library. It's a vibrant and flourishing space designed to support bees, butterflies, and other essential pollinators. Thanks to the guidance, support, and maintenance from members of Bee Friendly Williamstown and the Xerces Society, this garden features a diverse selection of native plants that provide vital food sources and habitat for pollinators throughout the seasons.
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Climate Preparedness Week
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Limiting single-use items
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Providing reusable coffee cups and mugs for our coffee station
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Providing instant coffee to limit K-cup waste
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Providing free, reusable tote bags for patrons
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Re-using paper for certain printing purposes
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Composting at the Milne
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Providing a refillable water bottle fountain
Compost at the Milne!
Our library is happy to partner with Second Chance Composting in hopes of becoming more sustainable. Second Chance Composting's program is free through the David & Joyce Milne Public Library but space is limited. Membership registration is required.
Once registered, Second Chance Composting will email you a contract that must be signed via email. Members get unlimited drop off of household food scraps to our library.
Save your food scraps at home in a food safe container, and at your convenience, bring them to the library. Second Chance accepts any and all food and food scraps. Nothing else should be in their tote.
Come as little or as much as needed. Please keep this to reasonable daytime hours of approximately 8am-6pm
Initiatives & Resources
Each year we recognize and host or highlight events for Climate Preparedness Week which is the last week of September!
Many Massachusetts libraries collaborate with Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW) on Climate Preparedness Week to prepare communities for extreme weather by offering programs about emergency preparedness and the intersection of climate change and social justice.
We've hosted events including climate change book talks, foraging walks and talks, slideshows by naturalists, and most recently, a Community Eco-Fair. The library is also a designated cooling center.
Raised beds have been placed in the courtyard with herbs and vegetables for all to enjoy.
In 2025, we grew basil, cilantro, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, squash, bok choy and even Stockbridge Beans, which have been cultivated by the Stockbridge-Munsee for centuries.
Produce grown in these garden beds were available to library patrons and staff to take to use in making meals. We plan to continue growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs and providing them for free in the coming years.
In 2025 we offered a seed library to our patrons, and will offer it again throughout the growing season each Spring. It contains organic seeds of all kinds that anyone can take to grow vegetables, herbs and fruits at home. Over 1000 mini-packets of seeds were distributed in our first season!
Learn more about the Seed Library by reading our blog post, and look for seeds in the card catalog again next Spring!
Coming Soon!
We will be offering bi-monthly or quarterly discussion groups about books and articles that touch on sustainability matters of all kinds.
The first one will take place in November 2025!
We will be purchasing and making available to the public a number of TerraCycle Zero Waste Boxes, which will help residents recycle materials otherwise headed to the landfill. We are able to provide this service thanks to a Sustainable & Resilient New England Libraries Grant.
To limit use of single-use items, we provide:
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Reusable coffee cups and mugs for our coffee station
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Instant coffee to limit K-cup waste
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Free, reusable tote bags for patrons
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Scrap paper to reduce paper waste
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A filtered, refillable water bottle fountain
In addition to these boxes, we have offer composting through Second Chance Compost which you can learn about and sign up for on this webpage or by clicking this link.
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