Earth Day is April 22, but libraries help reduce your impact on the planet every day, because we reuse our collections again and again and again! That means fewer resources and energy are consumed to meet the needs of many people, and fewer items are discarded as a result.
Examples of Fairborn Community Library books that have been used and reused many times:
| A copy of Meet Felicity, an American Girl, by Valerie Tripp | 179 checkouts |
| A copy of Star Wars: Dark Empire, by Tom Veitch | 153 checkouts |
| A copy of Stuart Little, by E. B White | 145 checkouts |
Examples of DVDs that have had a long life in circulation:
| A copy of Best in Show | 382 checkouts |
| A copy of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid | 364 checkouts |
| A copy of The Bridge on the River Kwai | 333 checkouts |
When do we get rid of these items? Well, we keep materials for as long as they are in demand, and in good condition. Library materials can stand up to heavy use if patrons take care of them (which you almost always do) and if we provide some light repair as needed. Library staff and volunteers replace damaged cases, repair loose bindings, and resurface scratched discs. We wipe covers and erase pencil marks, too. (Do not write in the books, okay?)
And most of the materials that we eventually withdraw continue to be reused. They may land on the library sale shelf, be sold online, or be donated to Goodwill. Sometimes, withdrawn books in good condition go to school classrooms and libraries, or the VA hospital.
So, take action to protect our beautiful planet when you celebrate Earth Day this month, and when you use your library all year long. Want to do even more? Use tote bags instead of disposable plastic bags to carry your books! Buy one at Fairborn Community Library’s circulation desk for only $4.
Add a comment to: Library Users and the Environment