The Monona Public Library plans to introduce a new Sustainability Section to showcase books, DVDs, books on CD, free pamphlets, and other information relating to sustainability. The Natural Step Monona, a group that promotes adopting a framework for creating an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable Monona, is spearheading the effort and organizing a campaign to collect materials for the new section, which will debut later this year.

The Sustainability Section will have a variety of resources relating to large issues such as climate change and transportation, as well as ”backyard” issues such as how to compost, build green, and reduce household consumption. Heather Gates, a volunteer for both the library and The Natural Step Monona, hopes the local focus of the Sustainability Section will help Monona residents become motivated and energized in changing harmful behaviors. ”There are so many positive steps that we can make as individuals, and so many more positive things we can do when we act as a community,” Gates says. ”With the new Sustainability Section we hope to make it easy for people to learn what they can do and to put what they learn into action to create a thriving, sustainable Monona.”

Erick Plumb, Monona’s Public Service Librarian, believes the new collection will help to engage library patrons in the issues. ”Sustainability is a tremendously important topic, especially in a community like Monona,” Plumb says. ”Due to the city’s location on Lake Monona and the Yahara River, Monona residents care deeply about sustaining the special character of their local environment. The community library is a natural place to house information that is extremely relevant to Monona.”

Volunteers from The Natural Step Monona have started a drive for donations of pertinent materials. The Monona Library has no funds available for the new section and will need the support of generous individuals to stock the new collection. ”We hope that people who are deeply interested and involved in these issues will participate in creating this collection for their community,” Plumb said.

The Natural Step Monona asks for books, DVDs, videos, and books on tape or CD. They ask you not to donate materials that are obsolete. ”New and better methods of living in a sustainable way are rapidly evolving, growing to encompass all facets of human activity. It is important to impart only the most relevant, accurate, and current information,” says Molly Crossen, The Natural Step Monona volunteer. The Library will make the final determination as to the inclusion of any item into the Sustainability section.

Examples of desired titles on The Natural Step Monona ”wish list” are: An Inconvenient Truth, by Al Gore (both the DVD and the book); 365 Ways to Save the Earth, by Philippe Bourseiller; Sustainability and Cities: Overcoming Automobile Dependence, by Peter Newman and Jeffrey Kenworthy; and Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, by William McDonough..

Bins for donations of materials have been placed in the driveways of both Gates and Crossen. Gates lives at 207 W. Dean Avenue at the corner of Dean and Wallace. Crossen lives near the library at 5403 Schluter Road. Eventually there will be a site at the library for donations, but for now these are the only drop-off sites.

Monetary donations for the purchase of new materials for the Sustainability Section are greatly encouraged and can be made to: Monona Public Library: Sustainability Section, and sent to the following address: 1000 Nichols Road, Monona, WI 53716.

For more information about the Sustainability Section, call Erick Plumb, Public Services Librarian, Monona Public Library, at (608) 222-6127. If you have questions about the book drive, the ”wish list,” or the Sustainability Section, or if you wish to learn more about The Natural Step, please contact Heather Gates at (608) 663-2459 or hgates@midplains.net.