Sustainability Resource Center
Inspiring awareness and action for a sustainable community through information, resources, and tools.
What is the Center?
Our Sustainability Resource Center is located on the 1st floor of the Library. You can find materials that speak specifically to climate change and sustainable living, a seed and tool library, interactive displays, and local nonprofit information dedicated to environmental and sustainability resources. Once the home of one of the world’s richest silver mines, Park City is tackling climate change and environmental degradation with world-class ambition by having one of North America’s most ambitious climate goals: to be running on 100% renewable electricity and net-zero carbon as an entire community by 2030.
Our sustainability mission as a Library is growing in leaps and bounds. We are now enrolled in the Sustainable Libraries Certification Program, a national program centered around libraries' commitment to environmental stewardship, economic feasibility, and social equity. The program centers around 12 categories, listed below, to create feasible changes that reflect the goals and environment of each library going through SLCP (The Sustainable Libraries Initiative’s Sustainable Libraries Certification Program). We are ecstatic to be learning and growing into a more sustainable Library.
The Twelve Categories are:
- Organizational Commitment
- Energy
- Materials Management – Waste & Recycling
- Materials Management – Purchasing
- Transportation
- Land Use
- Water
- Collective Impact
- Social Cohesion
- Community Resilience
- Financial Sustainability
- Collections
The Sustainability Resource Center has been made possible with help from the Friends of the Park City Library, funding from the Community Library Enhancement, and Eats PC. The Friends of the Library help fund many of the Library's rich offerings. For information about becoming a member visit: https://parkcitylibrary.org/friends-of-the-library/
Sustainability Resource Center Features
- Book Collection: Items for all ages. Focuses on sustainability, climate change and activism.
- Living Wall: The plants growing on the living wall help clean the air we breath in the Library. These plants are specifically selected to purify the air.
- Eco Bike: Go for a ride that generates electricity which is returned back into the grid.
- Community Information Center: Find out about local resources and nonprofits.
- Tower Garden: Provided in partnership with Eats Park City, the tower garden is growing fresh veggies for the guinea pig friends in the children’s area of the Library.
- Seed Library, Tool Library, and Energy Detective Kits (and other equipment): Help you achieve a healthier home and community.
- For more events, view our calendar.
Green Reads
The Park City Library encourages those interested in learning more about sustainability and environmental awareness at home and in our community to explore more with Green Reads. Every season (summer, fall, winter, spring), the library selects a book to read and discuss those topics together.
Fall Topic - "Let’s Get Trashed”
Year of no garbage: recycling lies, plastic problems, and one woman's trashy journey to zero waste by Eve O. Schaub
Discussion: November 16th 4pm in partnership with Recycle Utah
In this book Eve O. Schaub, humorist and stunt memoirist extraordinaire, tackles her most difficult challenge to date: garbage. Convincing her husband and two daughters to go along with her, Schaub attempts the seemingly impossible: living in the modern world without creating any trash at all. For an entire year. And- as it turns out- during a pandemic. In the process, Schaub learns some startling things: that modern recycling is broken, and single stream recycling is a lie. That flushable wipes aren’t flushable and compostables aren’t compostable. That plastic drives climate change, fosters racism, and is poisoning the environment and our bodies at alarming rates, as microplastics are being found everywhere, from the top of Mount Everest to the placenta of unborn babies.
If you’ve ever thought twice about that plastic straw in your drink, you’re gonna want to read this book.
I am curious but don’t have time to read a book….
Article: How Plastics Are Poisoning Us | The New Yorker
I am really intrigued and want to read and learn more….
Book: Year of no garbage: recycling lies, plastic problems, and one woman's trashy journey to zero waste by Eve Schaub
I only have 30 minutes and prefer to listen….
Season 12: Episode 7: A Year of No Garbage... (Really!) • The Prairie Homestead
Past Green Read Selections:
- Powder Days: Ski Bums, Ski Towns, and The Future of Chasing Snow by Heather Hansman in partnership with Summit County Library.
- Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter by Ben Goldfarb, in partnership with Park City Mountain Resort and Swaner Nature Preserve.
- Future Fossils by David Farrier, in partnership with Park City Sustainability Department.
- All We Can Save edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson, in partnership with Recycle Utah.
- Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kemmerer, in partnership with Summit Lands Conservancy.
- The Day the world Stops Shopping by J.B. Mackinnon, in partnership with Park City High School Earth Club.
Seed Library
A seed library is a collection of seeds you can borrow to plant and grow- and when they seed, return some to the Library!
Our seed collection depends on donations and seasonality. You'll see different seeds available at different times, so check in frequently to see what's available.
You don't need a library card. Anyone can come to the library and look through the seed library and select up to 6 seed packets per person per visit.
Once you have selected your packets, please fill out a form and place it in the information box. This helps us monitor the use and hear your suggestions!
There's no obligation to return seeds, but we highly encourage you to participate which will help the seed library grow each season. Bring your seeds to the Library in an envelope with the following information:
-Plant name
-Variety
-Year harvested
-Your name and phone number
Seed libraries are popping up all over the country. They allow local gardeners to cultivate knowledge and create a culture around healthy food security within the community. The Park City Library is helping our community grow healthy and delicious food.
Shared Economy
Unique Items to Borrow
A shared economy expands on the original concept of how libraries have been sharing books for many years. We have items that can be borrowed, used and returned for another community member to use. These items can range from technology items in our YouCreate lab to tools that can help you plant your garden when using our seed library!
- Gardening tools
- Outdoor gear and games
- Technology, filming, podcasts, hotspots and much more
- Home energy and environmental quality equipment
- Waste Audit Kit - available for check out to survey your home or facility’s waste stream, include food, trash and recycling waste.
Book Collection
Librarians have compiled a special collection of books to help you learn more about sustainability, renewable resources, and much more. Books range from children to adult.
Librarian Picks
