BUDDIES Masterclass: Libraries Leading Europe’s Green Transition
8 Apr 2026
Across Europe, libraries and community organisations are responding to growing social and environmental challenges. From climate action and social inclusion to digital transformation and community well‑being, these changes are reshaping what libraries do, and how they work day to day. To meet these evolving responsibilities, library professionals increasingly need new skills and approaches that enable them to innovate, collaborate across sectors, and lead meaningful change in their communities.
Building Skills for Europe’s Key Transitions
As part of BUDDIES – Connected Libraries & Communities, Aarhus Public Libraries are organising a series of masterclasses focused on Europe’s key transitions: Digital, Green, and Social. These themes also reflect the core focus areas of The Europe Challenge programme, supporting libraries as active agents in addressing today’s complex societal issues.
Two presentations from the first masterclass, dedicated to the Green transition, are now publicly available. They feature perspectives from library innovators Nate Hill and Helene Bruhn Schwartzman, who share practical insights into how libraries can integrate sustainability, care, and ecological thinking into their work.
Libraries as Open‑Air Laboratories
In his presentation, Nate Hill explores how libraries, archives, and communities can nurture culture, growth, sustainability, and well‑being. Drawing on his experience with the Metropolitan New York Library Council, he reflects on the process of transforming a library into an Open‑Air Laboratory: a space for experimentation, collaboration, and learning that connects environmental awareness with community engagement.
His work highlights how libraries can move beyond traditional service models to become platforms for shared knowledge, resilience, and long‑term community impact.
Planetary Co‑Design and Eco‑Centred Thinking
Helene Bruhn Schwartzman’s presentation introduces planetary co‑design in libraries, focusing on design as an ongoing practice rather than a fixed outcome. Through eco‑centred thinking, she demonstrates how libraries can actively contribute to more sustainable futures by rethinking spaces, services, and relationships with their communities.
Drawing on her role as a Library Transformer at Aarhus Public Libraries, Helene shares examples of how environmental responsibility can be embedded into everyday library operations, decision‑making, and community collaboration.
The recordings are now available to watch and offer inspiration for library and community professionals interested in sustainability, innovation, and systems change.
