Green Books and More
‘Green Books and More’ is the name given to the Library team working towards the NUS Green
Impact initiative. We are encouraging the Library staff to change our working habits in order to
employ sustainable and energy efficient methods in our everyday practice. We successfully achieved
the Bronze award last year and even had a special commendation for one of the team who achieved
an Environmental Hero award. As part of our campaign we have put up notices in our offices
reminding folk to switch off equipment and lights, we have placed stickers on light switch panels
throughout the library, reduced the amount of printing by displaying documents for meetings on
screens and to foster good health we have conducted a couple of pedometer challenges among
staff. We are now working towards the Silver award and are planning to grow herbs in our staff
room, set up a lunch time walking group and are in the process of organising a walking to work / car
share day for the summer.
This year we stepped up our campaign to encourage students to engage in sustainable practices too,
with a display of relevant books on the subject of sustainability and environmental issues (see
photo). Later this year we are planning a student competition via social media for the best
sustainability idea for the Library to put into action.
We have enjoyed the challenge and the unity the activities bring to all areas within the Library and
are particularly pleased that all levels of staff can get involved. We have found it rewarding in that it
is often the small changes we can all implement that make a big difference, and if done by many
people can often have more of an impact than the big high profile things! We are looking forward to
bringing home the Silver award this summer.
Green Books and More - Angela Duckworth, Angela Griffiths, Fiona Hair, Rachel Kinsella, Paul Slater
and Jan Williams