As you drive through the center of Hadley, look beyond Dunkin’ Donuts and the Goodwin Library and you will see the new Hadley Public Library taking shape.

Growing more each day as the steel beams of the frame get hoisted into place, this library will replace our current Goodwin Library, built in 1902. Set to open in the fall of 2020, Hadley’s new public library is designed to serve the community and the surrounding area and will contain meeting rooms available for public use, as well as dedicated areas for local history, children and teens. Of all our public buildings the library is unique in its mission to serve every person and group in the community.

As co-chairs of the Library’s Sustainability Sub-Committee, we fear that Hadley may miss an opportunity to show leadership where responsibly green municipal design is concerned if we fail to act soon. The funding currently available for sustainability features, specifically an on-site solar photovoltaic array, is not adequate to create the type of green building that we need for the coming decades.

A primary goal of the trustees and the Library Building Committee for the new public library is to ensure a sustainable design with minimal maintenance, low energy footprint (which translates to lower operational costs), and a building that would stand proudly for the next 100 years. Once the building is complete, the trustees plan to apply for LEED certification, potentially earning another $100,000 from the commonwealth. Inclusion of solar would all but guarantee that certification.

In order to bridge the financial gap, the Library’s Capital Campaign Committee, having already raised nearly $300,000 to date, is launching a mini-campaign hoping to raise an additional $200,000 to cover the estimated 150 solar panels needed. At a time of rapidly accelerating climate change, we feel that it is imperative to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint. We are reaching out to those in the Valley who support sustainability in order to solicit financial support for roof-mounted solar, a crucial component of the new library.

Over the last few weeks, the Gazette has been filled with articles about the impact of climate change and letters urging us to take action. From Darlene Graham reminding us to, “Wake up, reduce our carbon footprint,” through political action, to Dr. Marty Nathan warning us not to sleepwalk past the point of no return by cutting our carbon emissions now. Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse shared how his city has taken steps to make sure that all citizens are included in solar programs.

In her September speech to the U.S. Congress, youth eco-activist and Time’s 2019 Person of the Year, Greta Thunberg, pushes us to move beyond words and into action:

“We’ve had 30 years of pep-talking and selling positive ideas. And I’m sorry, but it doesn’t work. Because if it would have, the emissions would have gone down by now. They haven’t. And yes, we do need hope, of course we do. But the one thing we need more than hope is action. Once we start to act, hope is everywhere.

So instead of looking for hope, look for action. Then, and only then, hope will come.”

We — along with many — have already donated to the new library because we believe in what happens in local libraries. Located in the center of our town, our library is the center of our community. From story time for our youngest citizens, to internet access for teens after school, to the town’s ukulele group, monthly book club, knitting group, and summer reading program, the Goodwin Library brings people together.

The new library will add dedicated children and young adult rooms as well as a Hadley History Room and community meeting room. We are striving to make this happen by using modern building techniques that keep our energy use low and building a library powered mostly by the sun.

And we need your help. We invite all of our Valley neighbors and business owners to help us finish the job by funding the solar panels and helping us construct a building that serves and supports all while treading lightly on our planet.

Contributions to the Hadley Library Fund are tax deductible and are administered through the Community Fund of Western Massachusetts. To find out more about this important opportunity to support sustainability, community, and public libraries, contact the Goodwin Library at 413-584-7451, or visit the Goodwin website at https://www.hadleyma.org/library for more information.

Jack Czajkowski and Ken Pollard are co-chairs of the Goodwin Library’s Sustainability Sub-Committee.