Update 4/19/22: Sustainability kits are not available at Jefferson County Public Libraries this year (2022). We apologize for any confusion.
E-readers offer great access to Library materials with the click of a button. , opens a new window But did you know that borrowing print books from Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL) is the most sustainable way to read!
As a comparison, the carbon footprint of an e-reader is about 168kg, more than 20 times that of a printed book, meaning that you would have to read around 23 books per year on your e-reader to offset the carbon footprint created by the technology, according to an article by Michael Carpenter on the Eco Guide.
When you purchase a book for your personal collection, the carbon footprint is also higher than if you borrowed from the Library, since you and your family might be the only ones to use it. Many more uses of the same book occurs at the Library, so this one resource is shared over and over again, providing the best case for sustainability.
With this knowledge in hand, come to the Library to check out our newest Stories to Go kit for kids, Mother Earth, available today. Our Stories to Go kits help you re-create Library story time at home with books (five fiction, one nonfiction), rhymes, songs and a fun craft to complete, based on the bag’s theme! The titles you’ll find in our Mother Earth kit are:
- S is for Save the Planet, by Brad Herzog
- You Are Stardust, by Elin Kelsey
- The Earth Book, by Todd Parr
- Thank You, Earth, by April Pulley Sayre
- The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss
- Our House is On Fire, by Jeanette Winter
Browse our online book lists, like Sustainable Earth, opens a new window and Gardening Together, opens a new window, to find more reads that encourage environmental appreciation, for all ages.
Want academic articles about sustainability? We have those, too! The online database GreenFILE, opens a new window is a collection of scholarly, government and general-interest articles on global warming, green building, pollution, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, recycling and more. Access is free with your Library card.
As an added incentive for you to visit the Library to celebrate Earth Day, we have a cool giveaway to offer you, thanks to the Jefferson County Sustainability Commission, opens a new window. Borrow the Mother Earth Stories to Go kit, opens a new window or any book about sustainability between April 19-23, and ask for an energy-saving sustainability kit (pictured) when you check out. The kit contains 10 LED light bulbs and a solar mobile phone charger. There is a limited supply of giveaways available so hurry in, as this offer is only valid while supplies last (one kit per person/family).
Come to JCPL to celebrate Mother Earth this Earth Day and every day, all year long, whenever you want to borrow a book from our collection! For those of you who fell for our April Fools' post, be assured: Our books aren’t going anywhere.
