Over the past eight months, McMaster University Libraries invited the campus community to explore environmental sustainability in both practical and creative ways.
Running from September 2025 through April 2026, the Year of Environmental Action featured events, exhibits, collections, and hands-on activities that encouraged students, faculty, and staff to take small steps toward positive change.
“The Year of Environmental Action showed how libraries can bring people together to explore complex issues and turn ideas into action,” said Vivian Lewis, associate vice-president and university librarian. “Over the past year, we've seen our community come together to share knowledge, learn new skills, and think about the role each of us can play in building a more sustainable future. I am grateful to everyone who led and participated in an initiative that nurtured sustainability.”
Throughout the year, the libraries hosted programs and displays designed to spark curiosity and encourage meaningful action.
Some of the engaging activities included monthly book displays in the libraries, crafting sessions using recycled materials, repair cafes at Thode Makerspace, an Archives Alive event featuring John Evelyn’s Sylva, seed harvesting and the seed library, a presentation on Indigenous seed teachings, a plant giveaway, the Theory of Water book club, a Climate Action Week art show, sustainable gift wrapping, and more.
This year also saw the opening of the student-led Well-Suited Community Closet at the lower level of Thode library. The community closet allows students to borrow professional attire for important academic and career moments, free of charge.
Many of these initiatives were organized by the Libraries Sustainability Committee, a volunteer group of staff members dedicated to advancing climate action within the libraries and across campus.
Paige Roman, collection strategy librarian and chair of the Libraries Sustainability Committee, says she is grateful for the contributions of the committee, volunteers, and campus partners who made the year’s programming possible.
“It’s been rewarding to create opportunities for people to connect with environmental issues in hands-on, meaningful ways,” said Roman. “We’re excited to keep building on this work and finding new ways to support sustainable action across our community.”
Although the themed year is coming to a close, the libraries remain committed to prioritizing sustainability. McMaster University Libraries will continue to support environmental action through programming, collections, partnerships, and internal initiatives.
Learn more
To learn more about sustainability at the libraries, visit the Libraries Sustainability Committee LibGuide and the Year of Environmental Action webpage.
