A New Lineup Of Programs Begins Jan. 7 – Reducing your Carbon Footprint
SANTA CRUZ —The Santa Cruz Public Libraries (SCPL announced its winter lineup in the innovative 
Citizen Science program held on the first Thursday of each month at a SCPL branch.
The Citizen Science program is an ongoing series for teens and adults conducted in partnership with the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery, the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History and UC Santa Cruz. The program includes a science-focused presentation by a local expert followed by a question and answer session.
“SCPL enjoys great partnerships with community organizations that allow the Library to bring a broad range of fun, intelligent and interesting programming to our patrons,” said Janis O’Driscoll, interim director of Santa Cruz Public Libraries.
The events will be 6:30-8 p.m. every first Thursday of the month this winter. The Citizen Science presentations will include:
- 7: Reducing Your Carbon Footprint – Downtown Santa Cruz Library, 224 Church St.
- 4: The Science of Friendship – Downtown Santa Cruz Library, 224 Church St.
- 3: Noatak River: Return to the Arctic – Scotts Valley Library, 251 Kings Village Road
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint focuses on household waste reduction and includes a panel of three enthusiastic speakers. Near-0 Waste blogger Andrea Randall, successful waste reducer and family man Kevin Keet, and City of Santa Cruz Waste Reduction Manager Mary Simmons will offer ideas and 
answer questions during the discussion. Zero waste is improbable, but “near” zero is possible. Start small and find out where it takes you! Read the Near-0 Waste blog at https://nearowaste.wordpress.com.
The Science of Friendship focuses on the growing body of research in this once neglected topic in the social sciences. What does it mean to be a friend? Has friendship changed with online social networking? Educator and consultant Christine Brooks, Ph.D. will discuss the crucial role friendships play in our wellbeing, and the consequences of loneliness and isolation. Learn more about the Science of Friendship at http://scienceoffriendship.com/.
Noatak River: Return to the Arctic is a 2015 Banff Film Festival finalist produced by the Muir Project. Forty years after their first visit to the Noatak River in Alaska’s wild and spectacular Brooks Range, Jim Slinger and Tip Taylor explore a lifetime of outdoor experiences and continuing adventure. Local adventurer Jim Slinger introduces the film and answers questions after the screening. – Learn more about the film and the Muir Project at https://www.banffcentre.ca/node/6330.
The Santa Cruz Public Libraries (SCPL) system delivers information, education, enrichment and inspiration through a network of 10 neighborhood library branches, a web-based digital library, a Bookmobile and community-based programs. Branch locations include Aptos, Boulder Creek, Branciforte, Capitola, Downtown Santa Cruz, Felton, Garfield Park, La Selva Beach, Live Oak and Scotts Valley. Learn more about SCPL at SantaCruzPL.org