San Francisco Public Library honored with Commission on the Environment award for sustainability work

The San Francisco Commission on the Environment presented its Environmental Service Award March 22 to the San Francisco Public Library in recognition of the library system's sustainability initiatives.

Commissioner Bermejo described the award as "one of the highest environmental honors in San Francisco," noting the library's work on zero-waste practices, green purchasing, nontoxic supplies, energy meters, LED light distributions and a seed-lending program. He said 11 of the library's 12 branch libraries are LEED-rated and that the Mission and Chinatown branches will soon be all-electric.

Accepting the award were Maureen Singleton, Chief Operating Officer; Charles Coleman, Custodial Manager; and Michelle Jeffers, Chief of Community Programs and Partnerships. Maureen Singleton thanked the commission for the recognition and highlighted the library's long-standing partnership with the Department of the Environment. Charles Coleman and Michelle Jeffers spoke about the custodial and programming teams that support sustainability efforts.

Director Deborah Rafael praised the library as an early adopter of city sustainability initiatives and noted the library's role in Climate Action Month events and public outreach. The commission and several speakers emphasized the library's role in public education about greener living.