Lindenhurst Memorial becomes the first green-certified library on Long Island

Eight public libraries are trying to complete the first phase of a two-part certification process after the Lindenhurst Memorial Library became the first on Long Island and third in New York state to get certified green.

Green Business Partnership, the nonprofit enforcing the environmental policy, uses an online dashboard to monitor each library’s progress with a checklist of seven different categories — commitment, energy, waste and recycling, green purchasing, transportation, land use, and water.

Within one year, the Lindenhurst library board recycled furniture and 40,000 books, reduced electricity by 30 percent, cut down 60 percent of plastic and cardboard waste, and prevented pollution by carpooling or walking to work.

“It’s not unique to them [libraries] that they’re recycling books, but now they have to say how many and how often,” Roger Reyes, assistant director of the Suffolk Cooperative Library System, said. “Other things they weren’t doing before are now put on paper and indoctrinating how they do certain things.”

The Suffolk Cooperative Library System runs the second part of the program, focused on improving economic and social services like accepting passport applications and providing free internet connections. Throughout March, staff members from Lindenhurst will host events that educate residents about environmental friendly changes.

The events cover a range of topics, from fixing leaky faucets that waste water to cutting down the emission of greenhouse gasses by avoiding plastic-packaged meat. They will also create a prom pop-up shop where teens can get recycled suits and dresses for free.

“We’re going to do discussions that give people ways where they can reduce their carbon footprint in the community,” Lisa Kropp, Lindehurst library director, said. “It’s like this trickle effect of more and more people getting involved.”

The South Huntington Public Library, one of the eight libraries in the program, has created a strict environmental policy to ban staff from using paper, plastic utensils, cleaning products, disposable cups and paper.

For libraries, sustainability is threefold, Janet Scherer, Director of South Huntington, said.

“It [the program] includes the environmental piece, but we also strive to be socially equitable and economically sound,” Scherer said.