- Posted on May 21st, 2025
Green Libraries: New £1.2 million programme to transform UK libraries into community climate action hubs
JB are pleased to be part of a new initiative to establish 10 Green Library Hubs across the UK over the next three years. Launched by CILIP – the UK’s library and information association – the Green Library Hubs programme marks a major step forward in mobilising libraries as catalysts for local climate action. JB will work in partnership with CILIP, the British Library and CAG Consulting to deliver the project, which is made possible through £1.2 million in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund.
As a partner of the Green Libraries Campaign since it first began in 2022, we have seen many inspiring examples of local libraries connecting with their communities on positive action for people and planet. We are thrilled to have the opportunity now, with the support of the National Lottery Climate Action Fund, to support and empower local libraries to realise their potential as changemakers on inclusive climate action in their communities.
– Claire Buckley, Programme Lead, Julie’s Bicycle & Board Member, Green Libraries Campaign
About the Green Library Hub Programme
Rooted in local communities, these hubs will help humanise the climate crisis, offer accessible environmental education, and support community-led solutions to sustainability challenges. Over the life of the programme, more than 100 frontline library staff will be trained, and hundreds of residents will engage in inclusive, locally relevant climate activities.
Each Green Library Hub will:
- Serve as a community space for environmental learning and events
- Humanise the climate crisis through local relevance and engagement
- Support partnerships with local groups, schools, and climate organisations
- Equip library staff with environmental literacy and community engagement tools
Three pioneering hubs, selected for their strong community ties and commitment to reaching underserved audiences in climate engagement, are already in place: Camden Libraries, London, Blackburn with Darwen Libraries, North-West England, Guildford Library, Surrey. A further seven hubs will be selected in 2026 and 2027 via an open application process.
For the programme, JB will focus on training and capacity-building with library teams, ensuring they feel confident and equipped to engage their communities on inclusive climate action. We’ll contribute:
- In-person workshops with each of the 10 library hubs
- Online environmental training for all hubs
- Peer-to-peer exchange sessions to support a growing community of practice among Green Library Champions
Building on the Green Libraries Campaign
The Green Library Hubs programme is the next phase of the Green Libraries Campaign, a UK-wide initiative launched in 2022 by CILIP, Julie’s Bicycle, Libraries Connected, the British Library, and Arts Council England. Since its inception, the partnership has:
- Launched the Green Libraries Manifesto, signed by hundreds of libraries
- Delivered a £40k Green Libraries Grant Fund, supporting 15 library projects in England, with additional funds rolled out in Scotland and Wales
- Conducted a Green Libraries Survey to understand existing sustainability efforts and needs across the sector
- Held the first Green Libraries Conference and Green Libraries Week in 2023, reaching over 250 participating libraries
As the campaign has evolved, new partners such as SCONUL, RLUK, the NHS Sustainability in Knowledge and Library Services group, and National Library of Scotland have joined the movement. The ambition is to ensure that Every Library is a Green Library.