Sustainability at Countway

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 to our year-round seed library, we’re highlighting a variety of ways that our community can get involved, learn more, and make a positive impact.

Join us in creating a healthier, more sustainable future.

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.

Mobile Book Display

In celebration of Earth Month, we’ve curated a book display highlighting topics including environmental health, climate change, sustainability, and urban gardening. The selection includes children’s books as well! We invite you to check out the display on the first floor near the Shattuck Street entrance or peruse the titles via HOLLIS.

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). Throughout April, the dispenser by the Huntington Avenue entrance will be producing 1/3/5-minute pieces from their Environmental Writing Collection. Come check it out! 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

Capturing the History of Sustainability at the Harvard Chan School

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.

EcoOpportunity

EcoOpportunity, Harvard Longwood Campus Green Team, is a group dedicated to advancing sustainability on campus. Join us to discuss sustainability project ideas, brainstorm new campaigns, and get to know people from across the Harvard Longwood Campus!

Reuse Room

The Reuse Room is a campus space where students, faculty, and staff can donate or pick up free office supplies, household goods, and lab equipment. With frequently changing inventory, it supports sustainability by reducing waste and encouraging a culture of sharing across the community! Located in HSPH Building 1, Room B-5, open Wednesdays from 11:30am-1:30pm. 

2026 Events

Drop-in Zine Making Workshop: Earth Month Theme

April 15 | 11 am–12:30 pm | Countway Info Desk (Floor L1)

Learn how to make your own zine!

EcoOpportunity FreeCycle 

April 29 | 11 am–2 pm | Kresge Atrium

Come "shop" for free and help build a sustainability-minded community!
 

2025 Events

Check our calendar for upcoming 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 | 2–5 pm | Countway 102 or Online

Environmental Justice Zine Workshop

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

Earth Day Fest

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

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 | 2–3 pm | 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 | 4–5 pm | Countway 102

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 | 4–5:30 pm | Countway 102

More info about the Food, Inc. 2 screening

Sustainability Offices Around Campus

HMS Sustainability

EcoOpportunity

Harvard Office for Sustainability

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