Earth Day is on Saturday, April 22, and many people will be taking time on this day to reflect on our relationship with our planet. Anne Arundel County Public Library offers services and programs throughout the year focused on environmental awareness, knowledge and skills so our community feels empowered to make informed decisions and take responsible action.
Our collection provides the opportunity to learn about and experience nature, from books for all ages to our Library of Things. You can check out a Birding Kit at Maryland City at Russett Library; borrow fishing poles at the Deale, Eastport-Annapolis Neck, Edgewater, Mountain Road and Severna Park Libraries; or request museum passes to Historic London Town and Gardens and the William Paca House and Garden.
Green initiatives, like the installation of electric vehicle charging stations and the acquisition of two electric library vehicles funded by our Kindergarten Readiness program, demonstrate the library’s exploration of how our buildings and practices can contribute to the conversation about environmental awareness. They also begin to intersect with our commitment to social justice and how we can provide programs and services that meet the needs of our community while reducing the harm we may cause to areas that may already be overburdened by environmental degradation.
At the heart of many library programs about the environment are partnerships. Some partners are national organizations, but many of our partners come from our neighborhood groups – like garden clubs or service learning students – and non-profits and county organizations with similar educational missions. We are grateful to our many partners who offer their time to share information and teach skills and to our Library Foundation for funding environmental education programs. While we’ll be celebrating with our communities on Earth Day, we welcome you to join us for free, environmental education programs all year long!
Published April 19, 2023