The annual celebration of Earth Day gets people thinking about what they can do to take care of our planet. If you're looking for ways to help the environment, stop by Seymour Library or visit our Web site and take a look at the resources we have available.

Our reference room was filled on two occasions earlier this month for programs on global warming. The first was a showing of the Academy-Award winning documentary “An Inconvenient Truth,” which features former Vice President Al Gore. The second was a live presentation based on the movie, featuring Auburn resident and energy analyst Susan Galbraith.

If you're interested in the topic of global warming but weren't able to make it to our programs, we invite you to borrow either the DVD or the book version of “An Inconvenient Truth.” Both are available at the library.

The movie and our speaker helped us better understand how scientists have come to the conclusion that human activity has contributed to a warming trend on Earth. The programs also suggested ways that people can take action, from using compact fluorescent light bulbs to unplugging appliances, such as DVD players and computers, that draw energy even when they're not in use. Our audience members - who came out on evenings that were to say the least unusually cold for April - appreciated Galbraith's observation that global warming isn't simply a matter of warmer weather, but weather extremes.

One of our best books for people who want to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide they're putting into the environment - and perhaps reduce their energy bill along the way - is “Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5,000 Pounds” by David Gershon.

A related Web site, www.empowermentinstitute.net/lcd, lets you easily calculate how much carbon dioxide your household produces. Just click on the “Household CO 2 Calculator” heading.

Both the calculator and the book provide good ways to start thinking about changes that you might be able to make at home, from driving a car that gets better gas mileage to reducing the amount of trash you send to the landfill.

Seymour Library also has copies of the book 󈬢 Simple Things Kids Can Do To Save the Earth,” which helps children think about their impact on the environment.

The book has become something of a classic since it was first published in 1990.

It's filled with practical suggestions, and although it appeals to children, it's a rare adult who doesn't pick up a few facts and ideas from it, too.

Finally, you might have seen the recent edition of Time magazine devoted to ways to help the environment. Time is just one of the many magazines available at Seymour Library. You can also find Time's “Global Warming Survival Guide” at www.time.com/time/specials/2007/environment. You can link to it, and other resources mentioned here, simply by visiting our Web site at www.seymourlibrary.org.

Danette Davis is the children's librarian at Seymour Library in Auburn