Sustainability at Countway

April 2, 2025 Countway Community

Guided by our mission to advance education and research, we strive to provide our community with the tools to integrate sustainability into public health practices, ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

In celebration of Earth Month, we've gathered a selection of our special and ongoing sustainability initiatives, highlighting the library’s continued commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility. From engaging climate-focused events and the return of our Earth Day Festival, to our seed library and information about green team initiatives like EcoOpportunity, we’re highlighting a variety of ways that our community can get involved and make a positive impact.

Explore our new resources, including a Sustainability Bookshelf and a special Center for the History of Medicine exhibit, and join us in supporting a healthier, more sustainable future.

Upcoming Events

Keep checking back as we add new events!

Community Data Preservation: A Climate & Health Datathon

Health and climate data are crucial to our work and our everyday lives. Join us for this climate and health datathon and learn how to save our data while having fun connecting with fellow data enthusiasts!
April 15 | 2-5pm | Countway 102 or Online
More info about the Datathon

Environmental Justice Zine Workshop

We'll show you how to turn your interests and ideas into a creative and visually engaging zine!
April 16 | 12-1:30pm | Countway Info Desk

More info about the Zine Workshop

Earth Day Fest

Celebrate Earth Day in the garden and learn about sustainability initiatives around campus!
April 22 | 12-2pm | Countway Community Garden

More info about the Earth Day Fest

Springtime and Sustainability at the Arnold Arboretum

Learn about Harvard’s “Museum of Trees” and what it takes to keep North America’s first public arboretum open to all.
April 30 | 2-3pm | HSPH Building 2 Room 102 or Online
To RSVP email Susan Bottino

The Power Behind HMS/HSDM: Energy, Buildings, and Our Climate Impact

Join us for a conversation with HMS/HSDM Sustainability Manager Colette Baker!
April 30 | 4-5pm | Countway 102

More info about The Power Behind HMS/HSDM

Countway Cinema film screening: Food, Inc. 2

Food, Inc. 2 is a timely and urgent follow-up to the Oscar®-nominated documentary from directors Robert Kenner and Melissa Robledo. Join us to watch it together (with snacks)!
May 7 | 4-5:30pm | Countway 102

More info about the Food, Inc. 2 screening

Projects, Resources & Initiatives

Sustainability Bookshelf

This collection of books – selected by the Council of Student Sustainability Leaders which operates under the Harvard Office for Sustainability – brings together diverse perspectives into a curated and organized selection aimed at advancing and transferring knowledge for the betterment of the Harvard community and the planet.

More info about the Sustainability Bookshelf

Mobile Book Display

In honor of Earth Month, a selection of books from the CSSL Sustainability Bookshelf is currently on display on the shelf next to the Information Desk on L1 for the month of April. Check back monthly for new book displays of popular and scholarly titles!

More info about the Mobile Book Display

Short Story Dispenser

Countway has partnered with Short Édition to bring the art of storytelling to the Longwood community via our interactive Short Story Dispenser and Short Story Cube! These devices provide short works of literature at the push of a button (or wave of a hand, as they are now both contactless). From April 16-May 1, the dispenser by the Huntington Avenue entrance will be producing 1/3/5-minute pieces from their Environmental Writing Collection. Come check it out!

More info about the Short Story Dispenser

Prescriptions for Peace Exhibit

Countway's Center for the History of Medicine is pleased to announce that Prescriptions for Peace, a new exhibit on physician anti-nuclear activism from 1961 to 1985, is now on view on floors 1, L1, and L2 of the Countway Library. Explore the exhibit to learn about the work of Physicians for Social Responsibility and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and their contributions to global public health.

More info about the Prescriptions for Peace Exhibit

Countway Seed Library

A seed library is a collection of food, herb, and native plant seeds that are available for the public to take home. As you harvest, you are encouraged to save your seeds and donate them back to the library for others to enjoy, creating a self-sustaining program. The time-honored tradition of seed saving promotes biodiversity and nurtures locally adapted plants varieties. By saving and sharing seeds, we strengthen our community’s ability to grow healthy, nourishing food while supporting the use of open-pollinated and heirloom varieties. Located just inside the 695 Huntington Avenue entrance, the seed library is housed in a traditional card catalog and is available as a free resource to all community members.

More info about the Countway Seed Library

Countway Community Garden

The brick patio adjacent to Countway Library is home to the flourishing Countway Community Garden! Each season, this garden is home to over 70 gardeners from across the Harvard Longwood Campus who grow fruits, veggies, flowers and herbs in over 50 raised garden beds. Learn more about our events and initiatives and how you can get involved!

More info about the Countway Community Garden

Community & Urban Gardening Books

In collaboration with the Collections Department and the Countway Community Garden, we now carry a selection of gardening-related books! These include options for beginners and avid gardeners alike, including several children’s books!

More info about Community & Urban Gardening Books

Grounds for Your Garden

Throughout the month of April, Restaurant Associates (RA) will be offering “Grounds for Your Garden” - containers of used coffee grounds at their cafe locations across campus. Adding coffee grounds to your garden can increase the availability of essential plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. Learn more about this and other sustainability initiatives from RA!

RA Instagram Page

Leslie Silverman Papers, 1920-1967

Leslie Silverman was HSPH Industrial Hygiene department head, a renowned expert on air pollution, and advisor to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. This collection of papers, provided by Countway’s Center for the History of Medicine, are the product of Silverman's activities as a consultant, researcher, and Harvard School of Public Health faculty member.

More info about the Leslie Silverman Papers

Capturing the History of Sustainability

Countway's Center for the History of Medicine actively seeks out and collects records archiving the history of grassroots initiatives and sustainability efforts. In 2016, archivist Heather Mumford helped to collect records about the creation and history of EcoOpportunity, the Harvard Longwood Campus' green team.

More info about the collection of EcoOpportunity records

Sustainability Offices Around Campus

Do you know of something that should be added to this page? Let us know! Contact us anytime.