CAG is delighted to take on the role as evaluation partner in a new £1.2 Million Green Library Hubs project to power climate action in local communities.
The project is led by CILIP, the UK’s library and information association. The Green Library Hubs programme – a groundbreaking, community-led climate action project made possible through £1.2M in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund – Our Shared Future.
The three-year programme, delivered in partnership with the British Library, Julie’s Bicycle and CAG Consulting, along with 10 libraries across the UK, will establish 10 Green Library Hubs – spaces rooted in local libraries that act as catalysts for community awareness, behaviour change and grassroots action on climate change. Each Green Library Hub will:
- Serve as a community space for environmental learning and events
- Humanise the climate crisis through local relevance and engagement
- Support partnerships with local groups, schools, and climate organisations
- Equip library staff with environmental literacy and community engagement tools
The project is an integral part of the Green Libraries Campaign, and activities delivered through the Green Libraries Hubs will support the campaign as it enables climate action in local communities through a network of coordinated library services.
Louis Coiffait-Gunn, CEO at CILIP said: “This project is about enabling real, meaningful climate action at the heart of communities. Library services are deeply rooted in place giving them a unique ability to harness local communities, understand wider society and tackle complex challenges.
“Building on the success of the Green Libraries Campaign, this initiative continues to showcase how libraries foster collaboration and inspire action.”
The Green Library Hubs programme will be delivered in partnership with:
- The British Library, supporting delivery of community workshops and national reach through its Living Knowledge Network of public libraries
- Julie’s Bicycle, leading on environmental and community engagement training for public library staff
- CAG Consultants, responsible for evaluation and impact measurement
Catherine Ross, the British Library’s Head of Sustainability said, “The British Library understands the urgency of the climate crisis and we are committed to helping address it, in part through being a trustworthy source of information for our communities and increasing climate literacy. We are thrilled to receive this grant as it will enable us to deliver on this commitment through creating and delivering varied and engaging workshops for the public, in close partnership with Camden Libraries. The grant will also enable our Community Engagement team to support local organisations in running climate-focussed projects at the Library’s community hub, The Last Word, with an emphasis on reaching our neighbouring community in Somers Town. As part of our role as the national library, we also support networks of libraries across the UK, and we plan to share what we learn to with our Living Knowledge Network partners to increase the impact of the project.”
Claire Buckley, Programme Lead, Julie’s Bicycle and Board Member, Green Libraries Campaign said: “As a partner of the Green Libraries Campaign since it first began in 2022, we have seen many inspiring examples of local libraries connecting with their communities on positive action for planet and people. We are thrilled to have the opportunity now, with the support of the National Lottery Climate Action Fund, to support and empower local libraries to realise their potential as changemakers on inclusive climate action in their communities.”
Rhona Pringle, CAG Partner said, “We are delighted that CAG Consultants is the evaluation partner for the Green Libraries Hubs programme. We look forward to supporting CILIP, the British Library, Julie’s Bicycle and local authority library teams in their work creating 10 Green Library Hubs and making climate literacy and action accessible to everyone in those communities.”
The first three Green Library Hubs, launching in Year 1, are:
- Pancras Square Library, London Borough of Camden
- Blackburn with Darwen Libraries, North-West England
- Surrey County Council Libraries, Guildford Library, Surrey
Each site has been selected for its ability to engage local communities, particularly those historically underrepresented in climate conversations. A further seven libraries will be selected in year two and three of the programme, through an open call for expressions of interest.
Over the next three years, Green Library Hubs will host:
- Creative climate programmes with local creatives
- Trusted information access through curated environmental collections
- Climate literacy workshops led by trained library staff
- Activities contributing to the annual Green Libraries Week to celebrate progress and impact
- A national Community of Practice for Green Library Champions
For more information, please contact Rhona Pringle – rp@cagconsult.co.uk.