Sustainable Libraries Initiative – Join the Movement: Libraries as Hubs for Citizen Science
Originally Aired
April 29, 2026
Audience
Libraries
Topic
Sustainability, case studies, community impact
Watch the Webinar
DESCRIPTION
Celebrate Citizen Science Month this April with an inspiring webinar recorded on Wednesday, April 29, at 2 pm ET hosted by the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI)! While many think of libraries solely as quiet spaces for books, they are rapidly becoming vital hubs for global change. We’ve teamed up with SciStarter to showcase how libraries of all sizes and types are driving real-world scientific impact through community engagement.
Our expert panel will share “stories from the wild,” detailing how they transitioned from traditional programming to hands-on scientific discovery. Our featured speakers include:
Emma Giles – SciStarter
Vivienne Byrd – Los Angeles Public Library
Margaret Woodruff – Charlotte Public Library (VT)
Whether you have hosted a simple afternoon BioBlitz or are curious about launching a complex air-quality monitoring project, this session is designed for you. Discover how your library can empower patrons to contribute to meaningful research and inspire your peers to turn local curiosity into global solutions.
Moderated By the Sustainable Library IniTiative (SLI)
Emma Giles
SciStarter
Vivienne Byrd
Los Angeles Public Library
Margaret Woodruff
Charlotte Public Library (VT)
Downloadable Files
Projects Mentioned
Globe at Night
Take measurements of light in the night by searching for constellations on a “moonless” night, aka near the New Moon.
Anytime
Anywhere
light pollution, human health, policy
iNaturalist
Upload wildlife photography and identify species to contribute to the largest biodiversity database.
Anytime
Anywhere
wildlife, biodiversity, social network
Aircasting – Monitoring Outdoor Air Quality
Monitor the air quality in your hometown by carrying around an Airbeam device that collects particulate matter data. This project is also in a Citizen Science Kit.
Anytime
Anywhere
Air quality, environment, scientific device
The Great Sunflower Project (Pollinators)
Monitor pollinators and fill out a survey to inform pollinator health tracking.
Anytime
Anywhere
Climate, satellites, NASA
GLOBE Observer: Clouds
Take images of clouds and answer a few questions through a mobile app that compares your data to NASA satellite data to improve cloud cover research.
Anytime
Anywhere
Climate, satellites, NASA
GLOBE Observer: Mosquito Habitat Mapper
Find mosquito habitats with larvae, use a mobile app to identify them, then destroy the habitat.
Anytime
Anywhere
Epidemiology, NASA, Fieldwork