Suffolk Libraries will be taking part in Green Libraries Week to highlight the role libraries can play in celebrating green spaces and tackling climate change.
Green Libraries Week takes place from 7-13 October and focuses on climate change and sustainability with a series of events across the country.
The very nature of the library service involves ‘recycling’ books and other items which are borrowed many times over but as a local charity with 45 branches at the heart of many communities, Suffolk Libraries recognises it has an important role in promoting sustainability and an appreciation of the wonderful Suffolk countryside.
Suffolk Libraries will be celebrating how it has been improving its own environmental impact in recent years. Several libraries are supporting wildlife and biodiversity by investing in their garden spaces including the transformed outdoor space at Stowmarket Library and the new dementia friendly sensory garden at Thurston Library.
There is also an insect highway at Bury St Edmunds Library and this year swifts have nested and raised chicks for the first time in special boxes set up at Felixstowe Library.
Suffolk Libraries has an environmental pledge which sets out how the organisation is trying to make its work more sustainable. This includes new biodegradable library cards, introduced in 2022 which are made from sustainable materials and not plastic.
This year for Green Libraries week Suffolk Libraries is highlighting events which have been planned as part of its recently launched ‘Wild Reads’ programme.
First launched in 2020, Wild Reads is run in partnership with Suffolk Wildlife Trust and celebrates the connection between the natural world and the written word. It features a variety of creative writing and arts workshops, which explore and celebrate the environment and what we can do to protect natural habitats around Suffolk. This year, there is also a new ‘Go Wild’ children’s programme to encourage little eco warriors and young nature enthusiasts to explore nature in their local area throughout autumn with activities and recommended books with environmental themes.
The Wild Reads and Go Wild programmes will feature almost 100 nature-themed events taking place across our libraries and outdoor spaces around the county in the coming weeks.
You can check out our Wild Reads page for the full list of events in coming weeks and further information about the programme. The following events are taking place for Green Libraries Week:
Events with Martin Scaiff
Martin Scaiff is Suffolk Libraries’ Environmentalist in Residence. He joined in April where he began a six-month walking journey, connecting all 45 of Suffolk's libraries and collecting sound recordings along the way. He will be leading several events next week including a sunset listening walk from Glemsford Library on 9 October at 5.30pm, giving a talk about his work on 11 October at 6.30pm following a listening walk round Ipswich at 4pm. During Martin’s walks, participants are encouraged to walk silently, paying close attention to the sounds around them. There is also a chance to experience sounds above and below the limit of human hearing. Martin will also be hosting a nature silent disco at Mildenhall Library on 16 October.
Self/Contained
This exhibition has been curated for Lowestoft Library by former Environmentalist in Residence and textiles artist Clare Sams. The exhibition will be available to view from Monday 7 to Saturday 12 October.
12 October - Walk, Draw and Cast with Suffolk artist Eleanor Rodwell at Hadleigh Library
Eleanor will be leading a guided workshop with drawing activities suitable for adults. Eleanor will also be leading workshops at Framlingham Library on 31 October, and Ipswich County Library on 1 November.
Forest of Stories with Make Play - Haverhill Library on 8 October at 10am and Ipswich County Library on 9 October at 10am.
Come along and explore the Forest of Stories, a delightful adventure designed especially for under fives. This enchanting activity is run by Make Play, an Early Years arts organisation. The sessions invite young children to discover the wonders of nature through sensory play, fun, and engaging hands-on experiences.
You can see the full list of Go Wild events, books and resources for children and young people on our website.
Melissa Matthews, Suffolk Libraries Cultural Programmes Manager, said:
“As an organisation which touches the lives of thousands of people every year, Suffolk Libraries has a role and a responsibility to educate, inform and inspire people to appreciate and protect our environment. The Wild Reads programme aims to do this through promoting recommended books, events and workshops, including the fantastic new Go Wild activities for children. Our Environmentalist in Residence project also aims to engage people in different ways and make people think differently about the natural world and how we can protect it. Green Libraries Week is a chance to highlight what we’re doing and how people can get involved. We’d love more people to get involved in these activities and find out more!”
Wild Reads books
Wild Reads features a special recommended book collection including Losing Eden by Lucy Jones, Folk by Zoe Gilbert, World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Beak, Tooth and Claw by Mary Colwell, Being a Beast by Charles Foster, and Into the Tangled Bank by Lev Parikian. A new collection of poems by Suffolk-based poet Rebecca Goss, Latch, is also being spotlighted as part of Wild Reads.
