ELPL is Going Green(er)
with the Sustainable Libraries Initiative
What is the Sustainable Libraries Initative?
The Sustainable Libraries Initiative is a certification program for library leaders that provides them with the information and tools to promote sustainable practice in their communities. By working towards this certification, we are making a pledge internally amongst our team and externally to the East Lansing community to thoughtfully engage in operations and practices that make us a more environmentally sound, socially equitable, economically feasible institution.
Sustainability Progress
We are 50 percent of the way to earning our Sustainable Library Initiative certification!
Monthly Updates
- The Sustainability Team picked up the first few Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm shares from the MSU organic farm! This is an effort to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to staff and patrons.
- The Sustainability Team partnered with the City of East Lansing’s Environmental Steward to learn how to identify and remove invasive species on library property.
- In an effort to reduce paper use, font and margin sizes have been reduced on daily printed internal documents (hold lists), and front desk staff ask patrons if they would like a receipt rather than printing them automatically.
- The pollinator garden was planted out front of the library, near the Children's Musical Garden! It is being watered by DPW.
- Sustainability Team members from each department have been reviewing a Wisconsin Libraries’ Inclusive Services Assessment Guide and generating ideas on how to make ELPL more accessible and inclusive.
- We moved the trash/recycling bin from the breakroom to out front of the library and added a trash bin near the picnic tables to reduce the likelihood of littering.
