Sustainable Libraries Certification Program
The Cranbury Public Library recognizes the important role libraries play in their communities. The Cranbury Public Library aims to minimize our organization’s impact and maximize future generations’ ability to live, work, and play in our shared community, with equal access to clean air, clean water, and natural resources.
The Cranbury Public Library’s Board of Trustees and Library staff have committed to the “triple
bottom line” definition of sustainability: to be truly sustainable, an organization must embody
practices that are environmentally sound, and economically feasible, and socially equitable.
The Library Director and Library Board of Trustees aim to apply sustainable
decision making throughout the Library’s policies, procedures, and practices, including, but not
limited to, the areas of facilities, operations, technology, programming, purchasing, and
partnerships.
In its commitment to sustainable principles, the Cranbury Public Library aims to ensure a resilient,
sustainable community and Library for all our residents.
Moving Forward
To begin the Cranbury Public Library’s journey toward improved sustainability, the Library has joined the Sustainable Libraries Certification program.
The Sustainable Libraries Initiative’s Sustainable Libraries Certification Program (SLCP) is a nationally recognized certification that provides public, academic, and school libraries with a tested, structured path forward to increase each library’s commitment to environmental stewardship, economic feasibility, and social equity.
During the Sustainable Libraries Certification process, the Library will work through 12 categories that help align our efforts with the triple bottom line:
- Organizational Commitment
- Energy
- Materials Management – Waste & Recycling
- Materials Management – Purchasing
- Transportation
- Land Use
- Water
- Collective Impact
- Social Cohesion
- Community Resilience
- Financial Sustainability
- Collections
Actions within each category will provide us with the opportunity to take a closer look at how things are done and/or consumed at our Library and encourage staff to think differently about how the Library will proceed on that issue in the future.
Click here for more information about the Sustainable Libraries Initiative.
Sustainable Policies and Procedures
Sustainably Designed: Cranbury Public Library’s Bio Retention Basin
A sustainable and resilient solution that manages stormwater runoff to minimize erosion and pollution while recharging groundwater supplies.
Did you know the Cranbury Public Library has a ton of other green features?
- In summer 2024, a Local Government Energy Audit of the Library’s facilities was conducted to help us identify areas to improve our building’s energy efficiency.
- We’ve insulated our hot water heater and pipes to reduce heat loss and energy use.
- Our water is heated by an energy efficient electric heat pump hot water heater.
- All of the building’s lights are on motion sensors and automatically turn off when a space is unoccupied. They’re also LED!
- Our computers have energy saver mode enabled to turn off screens and reduce energy consumption when the computer isn’t in use.
- We purchase recycled copy paper made out of 30% post consumer recycled content for all of our printers.
- We offer e-receipts! And for those who still want paper receipts, our receipt paper is BPA free.
- Our landscaping uses primarily native plants. This supports local pollinators and reduces our need for irrigation and water usage.
- We have a compost bin to manage our organic food waste. Using a compost bin diverts organic waste from landfills to cut greenhouse gas emissions and turns the waste into nutrient-rich soil that we use to fertilize our plant beds.
- We have a bioretention basin designed with native plants that naturally filters and manages stormwater runoff.
- Our restrooms feature liquid soap made without added detergents, dyes, or added foaming agents and is purchased in a paper carton container, instead of plastic.
- Our public restrooms feature electric hand dryers that use new “No Heat” technology and only 500 Watts of energy, have a 15 second dry time and a 95% cost savings compared to paper towels, and are GREEN SPEC Listed.
- Our water faucets have aerators to reduce water volume and consumption while maintaining a steady, perceived pressure.
- And so much more!