Libraries Earn Sustainable Certification

The University of Maryland Libraries have become the first in Maryland to complete the Sustainable Library Certification Program through the Sustainable Libraries Initiative, recognizing its work as a model for academic libraries in developing a culture of resilience, eco-literacy and collaboration.

"The Sustainable Library Certification Program has given the University of Maryland Libraries a valuable seat at the table in advancing sustainability on campus,” said Julia Ethan, UMD Libraries’ sustainability graduate assistant. “Sustainability should be a priority in every field, and the SLI shows exactly how it can be embedded into the mission and operations of libraries.”

Ethan’s work leading a waste audit for the library attracted nearly two dozen student volunteers, who sorted and analyzed about 90 pounds of waste to better inform the library on which items may have more responsible alternatives for disposal.

Other examples of the Libraries’ commitment to sustainability are its Top Textbooks on Reserve Program, which provides free access to materials for 150 high-enrollment courses, saving students over $1.5 million, and its 2025 launch of the Lulu Barnachea Memorial Sustainability Fund to support long-term green initiatives.

"The University of Maryland Libraries have set a strong example by weaving sustainability into their core duties and services. By creating a model for other departments with the Greenspace Sustainability Badge and sharing their innovative practices, they've not only supported students' career and personal interests but also established themselves as a true leader in sustainability." said UMD’s SLI mentor, Nardia Cumberbatch.

With this achievement, the University of Maryland Libraries became the fifth academic library to earn SLCP certification. The benchmarking system and community of practice is designed to provide public libraries, academic libraries, library systems and school librarians with exclusive resources and guidelines to shift toward a cleaner, greener and more equitable future.