Bright smiles and excited laughter filled the library on Wednesday, April 22, during Flex  as students and staff hurried to plant seeds to bring wildflowers to life. In celebration of Earth Day, the event opened a new opportunity to give away wildflower seeds. 

The library faculty honored Earth Day with a hands-on activity designed to promote sustainability. After the librarians’ quick tutorial on planting techniques, students were invited to choose a seed to check into the seed library. This interactive setup encouraged students to return once a week to track their plants’ progress and watch nature bloom. 

“It was a very therapeutic experience for me,” Ayman Halai ‘27 said. “Celebrating Earth Day this way made me finally take a break from my overloaded schedule and spend time in the Westwood community.”

With high stress levels accompanying end-of-year testing, Earth Day was a great reminder for students to relax and enjoy what nature has to offer. This opening gave students a moment to realize small actions can create a dramatic change.

“I thought it was a beautiful idea,” Jay Garcia ‘29 said. “Knowing that little acts help the environment make Earth Day feel even more special. I’m really thankful to have this opportunity thanks to the library staff.”

Small gestures like these serve as a powerful reminder that environmental stewardship starts at the local level. By fostering a space for sustainability, the library has empowered students to take meaningful ownership to the planet’s future.

“I really hope this event changed the way students see our planet,” Co-Librarian KatieAnn Prescott said. “It’s very vital to never forget the importance of our earth and giving back in any way can really change it for the better.” 

The library hosted celebratory events every day of the week to celebrate National Library Week, starting off with a visit from therapy dog Freckles on Monday, Workout with Wil on Tuesday, Wildflower Seeds on Wednesday, Bookmark Bedazzling on Thursday, and Trivia on Friday. 

“We wanted to showcase every aspect the library has to offer,” Ms. Prescott said. “We thought [doing a plant activity for Earth Day] was a way to encourage students to give back to the planet, and growing wildflower seeds is a nice hobby to get into which produces a lot of joy.”

The seed giveaway was inspired by a plant giveaway the library conducted last semester which drew positive feedback and participation from students. 

“Going forward, we definitely want to continue incorporating events which combine something hands-on with environmental awareness,” Ms. Prescott said. “Students always seem to really enjoy them.”