Summers at the library are a great time to take on a reading challenge, explore new media, or learn a new creative skill. It’s also a great time to chat about climate change.
As a McKinney Climate Fellow with the Indianapolis Public Library (IPL), Ava Benvenutti initiated dozens of climate conversations this summer, educating Marion County library patrons about local impacts and efforts being taken to address the challenge.
The conversations are more than just small talk. Research shows people consistently underestimate support for climate action—in part because their family, friends, and neighbors aren’t talking about it.
In Indiana, 54% of Hoosiers say they are worried about global warming. Even higher percentages support pro-climate policies, according to the 2024 Yale Climate Opinion Maps. Talking about climate change is one of the most effective ways to build a sense of unity and empower others to act, Benvenutti said.
“I love talking with people. Many times during my tabling sessions, there were patrons that would walk by. We would start talking, and they would come back at me with even more passion than I expected. They’d say something like, ‘Oh, wow! I’m so glad someone is talking about this,’” she said.
To ground her conversations, the IU Bloomington senior consulted resources on climate change focused on Indiana and Marion County. She also attended library staff meetings to ask for advice on how to connect with the public on climate and sustainability.
In her conversations with patrons, Benvenutti emphasized the basic science of climate change and the efforts being undertaken in Marion County to reduce local emissions and boost resilience. She also highlighted individual actions that people could take up themselves.
“If you don’t have the eye for it, you may not know climate change is happening around you,” Benvenutti said. “While people are still developing that eye, it’s important that we educate them on what is happening locally to bring awareness to the effects climate change is having in our everyday lives.
“I didn’t want people to feel scared or daunted by the size of this issue. I tried to keep everything hopeful, positive, and focused on resilience.”
Kids got in on the fun, too. Benvenutti shared coloring sheets and designed scavenger hunts that encouraged them to observe nature. With the library’s summer reading program coinciding with Benvenutti’s time as a McKinney Climate Fellow, she saw a lot of foot traffic and met parents eager to share the activities with their kids.
Benvenutti’s outreach builds on IPL’s internal sustainability efforts. Last year, McKinney Climate Fellow Braya Benjamin created a greenhouse gas inventory for the organization, quantifying the emissions associated with the library’s numerous operations and activities. The data is being used to inform a strategy for the library system to reduce its emissions.
“The Environmental Resilience Institute is honored to have such a positive relationship with the Indianapolis Public Library through the McKinney Climate Fellows program,” McKinney Climate Fellows Program Manager Elspeth Hayden said. “Libraries are important social safety nets and bastions of community resilience; it is imperative that these safe spaces continue to be champions of sustainability.”
Benvenutti said her summer experience reinforced her belief that small actions can spur bigger change. It’s a belief she’ll take with her upon graduating this December with a degree in anthropology and minors in environmental sustainability and dance.
“It gives me hope that what I plan to do with my future will make a difference,” she said.
The McKinney Climate Fellows program, administered by the IU Environmental Resilience Institute, is made possible by the McKinney Family Foundation, Energy Foundation, Rural Climate Partnership, Cummins, Inc., the Indianapolis Airport Authority, Interface, Broad Ripple Ice Cream Station, and ERI donors.
About the Environmental Resilience Institute
Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute connects a broad coalition of government, business, nonprofit, and community leaders to help Indiana and the Midwest better prepare for the challenges of environmental change. Together, we integrate research, education, and community to create environmental resilience and climate solutions—building a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future. Learn more at eri.iu.edu.
