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About BGU Library: Environmental Sustainability

An introduction to the Library in general

 

Fruit from a tree

Image CC0 from Pixabay by Geralt / 24647 Images

 

Here are some of the ways our Library contributes to the University's environmental sustainability agenda...


Our Natural & Built Environment

  • The Library overlooks one of the University's eight 'mini meadows' - which are specifically designed to support biodiversity - and is surrounded by trees including include beech, hornbeam and silver birch.
  • A number of 'windcatchers’ on our roof allow large parts of the first floor to be ventilated naturally.
  • Ceiling lights are motion-activated in most areas of the building.
  • Much of the building has underfloor heating (over 2 miles of pipes!), which is more energy efficient than other forms of heating.
  • Toilets in the building are flushed with rainwater, with mains water only being used when the rainwater tank runs dry.

Responsible Consumption & Recycling

  • Recycling bins are located throughout the building and we take cardboard to a central recycling point on campus.
  • We routinely send withdrawn books to a company based in our city who sell them on and give them a new life.
  • We re-use parcel packaging, envelopes and all order cards supplied with new books from our main book supplier, and have a scrap paper tray by our photocopiers to encourage students to recycle unwanted paper. 
  • We use cardboard box lids to organise documents and paperwork.
  • We operate a scheme whereby graduating students are encouraged to donate their old textbooks, which are given away to new students at the Freshers' Fayre.

Resources & Processes

  • We routinely carry out repairs to extend the life of old or damaged library resources.
  • We have stopped requiring that paperback books are supplied to us with plastic coverings.
  • We make sure our library freebies (pencils, notebooks etc) are plastic free.
  • The availability of online resources means we don't buy as many print resources as we used to.
  • We have compiled a reading list on climate change and environmental issues.
  • The vast majority of communication to library users is electronic (unless face-to-face), and library documentation and records are mostly maintained and stored electronically. 

read more about the University's work in this area.