by Barbara Buckley
Each year, Earth Day invites us to think about the beauty and expansiveness of nature. It seems fitting that this call to action to protect our beautiful planet, observed every April 22nd since 1970, arrives in spring–a time of new beginnings and hope. The evidence of rebirth is visible everywhere in Adams County. The blooming dogwoods, the daffodils, and even the humble dandelions bestow small spots of beauty, providing a heartening contrast after a long, cold winter. This season of reawakening is the perfect time to look at how the Adams County Library System (ACLS) helps to protect our local environment every day.
Sustainability and the reuse of materials are at the core of public library work. There is a saying attributed to minimalist expert Joshua Becker, “The most environmentally friendly product is the one you didn’t buy.” The library shares books, DVDs, magazines, and audiobooks with our community. Waste and pollution caused by manufacturing and shipping are reduced. Take Freida McFadden’s best-selling thriller, The Housemaid. Our three copies have been checked out 134 times since 2023! E-books and e-audiobooks consume even fewer resources–their primary requirements are electricity or battery power.
Our Library of Things expands on the typical library model and gives the opportunity to check out items not traditionally found in a library. Whether you need a pickleball set or a handheld infrared thermal imager, you can borrow it rather than buy it. Browse our collection at adamslibrary.org, or drop by any branch to thumb through a notebook depicting all items.
There are also two notable community-led collections. Visit the Carroll Valley Library or the Harbaugh-Thomas Library and look through a puzzle swap bookcase where you can donate a puzzle and select a puzzle to take home. No library card required, and no due date. Or, peruse the seed libraries the next time you are in the Gettysburg, Harbaugh-Thomas, Trone Memorial, or Littlestown Libraries. Each contains a collection of herb, flower, fruit, and vegetable seeds. Anyone can take or donate seeds. This is a community resource that can help ensure food security or provide a little joy and beauty in one’s life.
While the library recycles, we also upcycle. Our children’s programs turn “garbage” such as paper towel tubes, cereal boxes, and scrap paper into charming and creative crafts for kids all year long. Ready to go green? Check out a book, browse our Library of Things at adamslibrary.org, or stop by your local branch to pick up some seeds for your spring garden today. As the organizers of Earth Day say, ““For us, every day is Earth Day. Small actions, taken consistently, create real change.”
Barbara Buckley is Western Regional Manager of the Adams County Library System.