Tis the "Green" Season

By Georgia Mergler, Community Relations Manager

If your household is like many, those dirty Thanksgiving dishes will just have to wait until everyone returns from the retail blitz that promises to begin at the stroke of midnight (or earlier). Yes, before our turkey dinners have even been digested, the retail world hurtles us into holiday planning overdrive. Ordering the holiday cards, chopping down and decorating the tree, purchasing wrapping paper….wow all this holiday preparation wreaks havoc on the environment!

Here at Washington-Centerville Public Library, we are going green in honor of the holidays! To save the environment, and some cash to boot, we are discontinuing the practice of sending printed notices of overdue and reserved materials, effective January 1st. For a while now we have offered email notices in lieu of print, but for those without an email account that wasn’t of much use. Starting in 2012, patrons will have two notification options – email or automated phone message. Each has its benefits and each is more cost effective and environmentally friendly than printed notices.

Email Notification

• Immediate notification of books on reserve and overdue fines/fees
• Courtesy reminder notices that alert you when an item is about to be due (this feature is only available through email notices)

Phone Notification

• Immediate notification of books on reserve and overdue fines/fees
• Good alternative for those without a computer or email address
• Anyone who currently receives printed notices will automatically receive phone notices unless they specify otherwise

Eliminating printed notices will not only save scads of paper from the landfill, but will save the library $13,000 in paper and postage costs annually. Now that’s some green everyone can get excited about.

So, the next time you are in the library, or in your library account online, be sure to confirm your current email address and phone number and help the library make this the holiday (ever)green.

For more information on Washington-Centerville Public Library, call 433-8091 or 435-3700 or visit www.wclibrary.info .