To ask the Minister for Communities whether libraries are being encouraged to expand their collection of environmental books, resources, and digital content to support public education on environmental issues.

Libraries NI is a member of my Department’s Climate Change working group, which is made up of members from across the Department and a number of our Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs). This Group was formed in recognition of the wide range of skills and business areas that need to come together to share resources, knowledge, and skills on environmental issues.

The 2024-25 Climate change action plan is available on the Department’s website at https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-12/dfc-climate-change-action-plan24-25.pdf

This year I have been able to provide £2.7 million towards book stock funding which has helped Libraries NI provide a range of reading material on all matters, including environmental matters, for people of all ages which includes books, newspapers and digital resources. Libraries NI signed up to the Green Libraries Manifesto in August 2023, signalling a commitment to follow a set of common principles with an emphasis to put sustainability at the heart of their work and planning, to embrace innovation that will help change current practices and to grow and share knowledge.