Five initiatives to reduce, reuse and recycle:
- Text Book Drive
- The Library has partnered with the Bookstore and Better World Books (BWB) for textbook drives. Textbooks are either resold online or sent to support the Books for Africa charity. Monies from sales benefit both Laurier and Books for Africa. Along with textbooks, the Library sends discards and donations not needed on our campuses. Donate your books using the bins at the Waterloo campus and Social Work campus libraries.
- During the spring and summer of 2009, 567 book drives across the United States and Canada collected 234,000 books for Books for Africa. Laurier's book drive collected 1,902 of those books, and of the 567 drives, Laurier's ranked #16! [excerpt from a letter from Patrick Plonski, Executive Director for Books for Africa]
- Paper Date Slips
- The Library, at all three campuses, has cut back on printed date due slips. So far, about 75% of users are opting to reduce paper and track their accounts online. Users can still request a slip if desired. With more than 105,000 books circulating, we could save up to 35,000 feet of paper each year. Say yes to no slips!
- Read more in The Cord's article on Laurier's environmental initiatives.
- Monitors
- 170 public and staff CRT monitors have been replaced with larger, brighter LCD monitors that also use 60% less energy. On an annual basis, we expect the LCD monitors to save more than 39,000 kWh.
- 170 public and staff CRT monitors have been replaced with larger, brighter LCD monitors that also use 60% less energy. On an annual basis, we expect the LCD monitors to save more than 39,000 kWh.
- From Microform to Electronic
- In 2009, as part of the shift to electronic journals, the Library discarded more than 2,000 reels of duplicate journals on microfilm. Because microfilm contains hazardous silver nitrate, the Library contracted Environmental Control Systems to dispose of the material in an environmentally friendly way. The film will be processed to remove the harmful chemicals and then reused. The plastic reels will be recycled. Thanks to our student volunteers who separated the film from the reels!
- In 2009, as part of the shift to electronic journals, the Library discarded more than 2,000 reels of duplicate journals on microfilm. Because microfilm contains hazardous silver nitrate, the Library contracted Environmental Control Systems to dispose of the material in an environmentally friendly way. The film will be processed to remove the harmful chemicals and then reused. The plastic reels will be recycled. Thanks to our student volunteers who separated the film from the reels!
- Internal Processes
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Wherever possible, Library staff try to reduce the amount of resources and energy used during daily operations. The Library actively works with its vendors to ensure that product catalogues and other correspondence is provided electronically instead of in print. When a print copy is needed, many library staff purposefully use the back of scrap paper.
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