Red River College (RRC) has a growing reputation as one of Canada’s greenest employers, thanks especially to its Sustainability Initiatives: http://blogs.rrc.ca/redgreen/

As an integral part of the College, the Library is no exception and practices sustainability in its everyday operations, such as purchasing environmentally friendly products whenever possible for its own supplies. These include paper products with recycled content, refillable pens, Enviro-Stik pencils, and recycled paper clips.

And, the Library also goes beyond what is required.  How does RRC Library uniquely practice sustainability? By:

• “Ever-greening” its collection; i.e. weeding to make room for new materials.  The old materials are not just thrown out to the landfill.  Far from it!  Once removed, they are made freely available for anyone to pick up from our freebie display.  Leftover items are picked up by the College’s Recycling team. 
• Practicing responsible printing – by staff and students with a bias to “keep it green and leave it on the screen”.
• Saving non-confidential photocopier/printer waste sheets that are blank on at least one side, for use as scrap paper by students and staff.
• Responsible recycling or disposal of video tapes, batteries, electronic equipment, etc.
• Inviting users to bring their own (ear)buds.   
• Launching its recreational reading book exchange program.
• Scrolling information on strategically placed screens for all to see instead of printing handouts.
• Featuring green themes in its window display, such as the recent “Prepare for Spring!”
• Creating curriculum-based, sustainability-related research guides, such as
  • Greenspace Management http://library.rrc.ca/subjectguides/greenspace/page_01.htm;
  • Prairie Restoration/Naturalization http://library.rrc.ca/subjectguides/prairie/page_01.htm; and 
  • Solar Car http://library.rrc.ca/SubjectGuides/solarcar/default.htm.
• Refreshing the air and milieu with plants – all provided by Library staff.
• Undertaking a composting pilot project at its Exchange District Campus location that collected 157.5 lbs. by weight and 205 liters by volume, over one calendar year, Jan. 26/12 to Jan. 25/13.

For further information about greening libraries:

• American Library Association: http://www.ala.org/tools/green-libraries
• Canadian Library Association’s Feliciter v. 58 no. 1 (2012) theme on “Greening Libraries”: http://www.cla.ca/Content/NavigationMenu/Resources/Feliciter/PastIssues/2012/Feliciter1_Vol_58_web.pdf
• Toward a Greener Library (University of Notre Dame):
  http://green.nd.edu/sustainability-in-action/toward-a-greener-library/  
• Greening the Library (Queen’s University): http://library.queensu.ca/library/about/vision/projects/green