NHS Green Libraries
April 22nd is Earth Day - a time to think about how we can protect our planet.
This seems a perfect time to share a blog post from Lucy Gilham proving an update about the NHS Green Library Grants projects that took place in 2024 and share some reflections from bursary sponsored participants at the CILIP Green Libraries Conference held in November 2024.
Raising awareness of sustainability with the NHS Green Libraries Grant
Lucy Gilham
Knowledge Specialist
Hampshire Hospitals Library Service
Basingstoke & North Hampshire Hospital
The NHS Green Libraries Grants were provided by NHS England to fund Green Library Projects in NHS Library and Knowledge services in 2024. Library services could apply for up to £2500 to be allocated to projects that would raise awareness of the effects of climate change. The grant was inspired by the CILIP Green Libraries Grant Fund annual award.
The funding was to give NHS libraries a way to support their own Trust's sustainability goals and create awareness of the impact of global warming. Some projects also aimed to reduce the library carbon footprint.
The projects were supported by the Sustainability in NHS Knowledge and Library Services Community of Practice Group. This group provided the arena for progress and learning to be shared as the projects evolved.
A total of 36 bids were received and were reviewed by Alison Day of NHS England, Adam Tocock, Whittington Health Library and Lucy Gilham, Hampshire Hospitals Library Service. 17 projects were selected to receive the grant allocation.
Grants were made to libraries throughout the NHS in England and differing amounts were awarded based on the nature of the bids and due to the high number of submissions.
Successful grant application bids
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Black Country Healthcare FT: Creating reading zones for patients, extending the life of withdrawn books from local public libraries.
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Bradford District Care NHS FT: Creating a collection of public health resources to educate people about climate change and facilitate roadshows to provide information and resources on different aspects of climate change including eco-anxiety.
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Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS FT: Desktop Garden conversation starters.
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Croydon Health Services NHS Trust: Creation of a living wall in the library.
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Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS FT: Establishing a mini library within the Trust therapeutic allotment on topics providing information about the allotment activities such as horticulture, vegetable growing, chicken and bee keeping.
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Homerton Healthcare NHS FT: Climate change book group session with author visit.
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Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS FT: Commission and co-create artwork on the theme of energy saving.
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Northumbria Healthcare NHS FT: Re-usable mail pouches to reduce reliance on padded envelopes and tape.
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Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust: Improving recycling and raising awareness by co-creating with local art students a mural in the library.
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Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS FT: Developing a display in partnership with Devon Wildlife Trust to raise awareness of green initiatives such as No Mow May and provide branded seed bombs for those engaging with the display
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Royal Papworth Hospital NHS FT: Events tied into the Trust Reflection Garden including a book swap box and promotion, talk by a nature expert, bird box painting session
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Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS FT: Sourcing sustainable single use period products to make available for free within the trust
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University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS FT: Establishing a sustainable good shop within the library
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University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire: Working with the NHS Trust Faith Centre to create a seed library and staff-exclusive crop garden
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University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust: Developing a sustainability and grow your own collection, seed library and sustainability-themed wellbeing arts events
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Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust: Building and promoting a sustainability collection and facilitating events to showcase and share learning from greening projects taking place across the trust
Participant feedback, impact and outcomes
Successful applicants provided feedback on their project progress and reported on impact and outcomes. This was gathered through support meetings during the period the projects were being set up, by completing a survey and finally an After Action Review session. The results of the feedback can be found on the Sustainability in NHS Library and Knowledge Services Community of Practice FutureNHS workspace.
Themes and key learning arising from the projects
Collaboration: The projects provided an opportunity to build new relationships with Trust colleagues and make new connections with other library staff nationally.
“…has encouraged us to work more closely with some local public libraries, and collaborate with more clinical staff, especially occupational therapists”
“I've really enjoyed the chance to collaborate with other NHS Trusts”
“Ideas from Green Libraries Conference/ CoP allowed me to adapt to alternative spending”
Adaptation / Plan B: Many of the projects hit unpredictable barriers, delays or changes.
“It could be useful to not tie future projects to a specific ‘month’ if we aren’t sure about getting set up in time”
“We had to wait several months for the funds to be identified which created a
bit of disappointment”
“Initial costings changed as desired suppliers had stopped stocking items”
“Have a clear plan from the outset…anticipate frustrating set-backs that are out of your control and know you are not alone”
Impact on the local environment. Several projects involved enhancing the local environment by incorporating plants into the learning environment.
“Very positive reactions from users [who are] loving the plants and the books”
“Everyone LOVES the Living Wall”
“the environment of the library is much nicer with the plants”
Raising awareness of sustainability. The main aim of all the projects was to raise awareness of sustainability. They all achieved this in different ways.
“I have been able to share lots of information with people about eco-friendly period products and make connections with staff who have been really supportive about my project.”
“Sustainability is linked to cost saving here - headline of all agendas”
Working with other departments. All projects depended on successful working with other Trust departments, although this was not always straightforward.
“have a better relationship with different teams in the trust like sustainability in estates and learning disabilities team”
“Buy in from CEO & Chair & Community sustainability group”
“Estates also put the stops on our outdoor plant ideas, so we just did indoor plants only.”
Enriching the local work and patient environment
“It's brought people together from departments that might not have always spoken to each other, so the focus moved to involve not just sustainability but also breaking down barriers to overcome silo working.”
“created great links with therapy staff and allotment users. Attended their meetings, chose how to spend the money together.”
Enjoyment, enthusiasm and perseverance
“This was a brand new section in the library, it takes time for colleagues to raise awareness”
“We have decided to run this event again in March/April”.
“we went bigger than planned”
“Time - huge amount of work (but worth it)”
You can find more details and pictures of some of the projects in a PowerPoint slide deck on the Sustainability in NHS Library and Knowledge Services Community of Practice FutureNHS workspace and also a link to a summary of the After-Action Review responses. Please note that access is subject to membership of the Community of Practice.
If you wish to join the Sustainability in NHS Library and Knowledge Services Community of Practice, sign up here.
Further reading/Websites
•Green Libraries Manifesto - CILIP: the library and information association
•About Green Libraries Partnership - CILIP: the library and information association
•Green Libraries Grants - CILIP: the library and information association
•The Green Libraries Scotland Grant Fund
•CILIPSGoGreen and Green Libraries Scotland – Environmental Resources for Libraries and Librarians
•The green libraries partnership and green libraries campaign - Yvonne Morris, 2024
•It’s a wrap: Green Libraries Week 2024 – British Library Knowledge Matters blog
•The Green Library Website – IFLA
•KLS and sustainability | Knowledge and Library Services
Contacts
If you would like any further information about any of the projects, please contact
[email protected] or [email protected]
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The CILIP Green Libraries Conference was held at the British Library on Monday 25 November. The posts that follow present a selection of abridged reflections from the day from some of the participants. Full versions are available in the Sustainability Community of Practice Future NHS Workspace.