For Immediate Release

December 1, 2025

Surrey Libraries is Certified Sustainable
The Sustainable Libraries Initiative recognizes Surrey Libraries
as a leader in sustainability.

Pictured (left to right): Surinder Bhogal, Chief Librarian, Kelly Lau, Sustainability Coordinator and Jennifer Wilson, Manager, Information Services proudly display the Sustainable Library Certificate achieved by Surrey Libraries.

Suffolk County, NY –December 1, 2025 –Surrey Libraries located in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, has been designated as a Certified Sustainable Library through the Sustainable Library Certification Program (SLCP). 

Building on years of sustainability improvements, Surrey Libraries has successfully completed the SLCP and shines is in its ability to promote social equity and communicate sustainability to its diverse community.

“Surrey Libraries is proud to lead the way as the first library in Canada to complete the Sustainable Library Certification Program,” said Tanveer Sohal, Chair of the Surrey Libraries Board of Trustees. “This achievement reflects our long-standing commitment to environmental responsibility and the role libraries play in shaping resilient, forward-thinking communities.”

The Library has woven sustainability into its culture from the ground up, starting with Library staff. Special care was given to the training of staff on the pillars of sustainability. Clear communication strategies and policies were implemented to guide work moving forward.  Support for staff also includes custom ergonomic work stations and a transit rebate program for staff working at least forty hours per month. 

Several branches are green building certified with LEED and Passive House designations. All branches now include permanent and regularly updated Climate Information Displays that offer local, low-cost or free resources on climate-action information to bolster community resiliency and spread awareness on climate justice. 

Beyond the buildings, Surrey Libraries has been reinforcing community connections, especially with Indigenous communities. An Indigenous Knowledge Keeper was invited to help bring Indigenous programming to Surrey Libraries and foster a deeper understanding of Indigenous cultures among staff and patrons. Additional programs were designed with the intention of reflecting the Library’s diverse patrons, demonstrating thoughtful communication on sustainability topics.

Surrey Libraries becomes the first Canadian member and the thirtieth public library to become designated as a sustainable library 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. 

“We are proud to have partnered with Surrey Libraries to help them become the first Canadian library system to complete the Sustainable Library Certification Program," said Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, President of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative, "Not only are they an early adopter of this work, but they have proven to be a shining example of how to do this work well with meaningful outcomes for their organization, community, and country."

For more information, view Surrey Libraries’ 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.