1. Paper Cuts Don't Hurt at the Gerstein Library
- Author
-
Cunningham, Heather, Feder, Elah, and Muise, Isaac
- Abstract
The Gerstein Science Information Centre (Gerstein Library) is one of 40 libraries within the University of Toronto (U of T) and is the largest academic science and health science library in Canada. It offers 109 computers and two networked printers for student, staff, and faculty use. In addition, the library provides patrons' laptops with wireless connectivity and docking ports throughout the building. The public PCs and printers are heavily used, especially by students (both undergraduate and graduate). Over the years, a tremendous amount of paper has been fed into Gerstein's printers. The staff became dismayed by the sheer volume being consumed. This article discusses the partnership formed during the summer of 2009 between the Gerstein Library and the campus sustainability office to embark on a pilot paper-conservation project. The driving force behind this initiative was to lessen the library's impact upon the environment, with budget benefits a secondary goal. A central theme in this initiative has been the importance of first reducing, then reusing, and, finally, recycling paper. Combining all three Rs is the strategy that will have the greatest ecological and economical impacts. (Contains 6 figures.)
- Published
- 2010