For Immediate Release

April 13, 2026

Sachem Public Library is Certified Sustainable
The Sustainable Libraries Initiative recognizes Sachem Public Library
as a leader in sustainability.

Suffolk County, NY –April 13, 2026 –Sachem Public Library located in Holbrook, New York has been designated as a Certified Sustainable Library through the Sustainable Library Certification Program (SLCP). 

Sachem Public Library stands out as an exemplar for sustainable practices in the library environment and a motivator for community members to follow suit. 

“We are so excited to complete our certification to become a sustainable library. This process has helped us to hone in and really imbed sustainable thinking and processes in all areas of the library,” said Assistant Director Kristen Stroh. “We've reduced our energy and water consumption, upped our recycling game, added to our garden spaces and programs, and focused more on our local partnerships. Seeing our impact has provided our team with a sense of accomplishment and pride to continue being a positive sustainability leader for our community and libraries.”

The library’s comprehensive Sustainability Site Management Plan ensures a strong focus on sustainability around every corner by invigorating library spaces and cementing sustainability into daily procedures. 

“Kristen Stroh and the members of the Sustainability Team worked diligently to cross the finish line for this certification. We are truly grateful for their efforts,” said Library Director Neely McCahey.

Among several outdoor spaces designed to connect patrons to nature, the library’s Discovery Grove Outdoor Classroom, certified through Nature Explore, is a sanctuary for cooperative play and nature-based learning. Thanks to the detail in these spaces and the large variety of programs led by library staff outdoors such as concerts, gardening, storytimes, holiday light walks, and pet adoption fairs, the library reports a large increase in visitation with outdoor spaces being used for 9-10 months out of each year. 

“At the library we thought we were doing our part in the area of sustainability,” said Marguerite Barone, Vice President of the library’s Board of Trustees. “But once Kristen Stroh and the Sustainability Team began their work, we realized that we had a long way to go. We as a Board congratulate them, along with entire administration and staff, on achieving this rigorous certification.” 

Other notable initiatives include indoor living plant walls, the donation of old newspapers to animal shelters, and the collection of about 8,500 pounds annually for local food banks.  

“The Sachem Public Library is an extraordinary example of how to make a powerful sustainable difference to their community. This is a library who has made an impact - I am so proud of their team!” said Matthew Bollerman, the library’s SLI mentor and Chief Executive Officer at the certified Hauppauge Public Library in Hauppauge, NY.

With this achievement, Sachem Public Library becomes the thirty-fourth public library to earn Sustainable Library Certification through the SLCP: an award-winning benchmarking system and community of practice designed to provide public libraries, academic libraries, library systems, and school librarians with exclusive resources and guidelines to shift towards a cleaner, greener, and more equitable future. 

Looking forward, the library anticipates the installation of outdoor exercise equipment, four new EV charging stations, updates to the library’s solar panels, and rain gardens and rainwater collection systems.

For more information, view Sachem Public Library’s final presentation or reach out to SLI Staff at sliadmin@suffolknet.org.

About the Sustainable Libraries Initiative

The Sustainable Libraries Initiative is a member-driven organization that empowers library professionals to be leaders in triple-bottom-line sustainability (environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic feasibility) both within their organizations and in their communities. The Sustainable Library Certification Program is now enrolling public and academic libraries, library systems, and school librarians.