Reduce, reuse, read: Earth month at the library
Each year, we celebrate and reflect on the beauty and abundance of our planet—and the importance of considering our impact through the lens of three pillars: reduce, reuse, recycle.
From an early age, these three “R” words were ingrained in my mind. The alternate three “R’s” (reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic) never made much sense to me – one didn’t start with an “R,” and another wasn’t even a real word.
But reduce, reuse and recycle just works. I think about it before buying something new (“Do I really need this?”) and again when I’m getting rid of something. (“Will I need this again?” or “Can this be used for something else?”) These small, thoughtful decisions about what we purchase, consume and discard can meaningfully reduce our footprint.
There’s another action thousands of you take each year that also has a positive impact on the environment: using the library.
Every book you check out instead of buying saves a pound or more of paper. And how often do most of us redo jigsaw puzzles or play board games more than a handful of times? Why create more waste when you can still enjoy the experience without adding clutter to your home? These individual choices add up. Every item you borrow instead of buy not only saves you money but also reduces the need for new materials and manufacturing, helping keep unnecessary items out of garages, closets and landfills.
At the Napa County Library, we circulate around 400,000 books each year, along with a couple hundred thousand other physical items. That’s a significant amount of paper, plastic, metal, and other materials that don’t need to be newly produced—and potentially discarded. Estimates vary regarding how many books can be made from a single tree, but most believe it’s between 25 and 100, depending on the length of the book, size of the tree, etc. That means between 4,000 and 16,000 trees per year aren’t harvested because of your use of the library in Napa County alone.
One unique item in our collection that can help you better understand your energy use is the Kill A Watt. This device plugs into the wall, and then you plug an appliance into it to measure how much electricity it uses — both when it’s on and when it’s off (so-called “vampire” energy use).
Another way you’re helping the environment also supports library services: visiting our Friends of the Library book sales. By purchasing used books instead of new ones, you’re extending the life of existing materials. Often, those books are donated back again, creating a cycle of reuse that benefits both the community and the environment.
Throughout the year, the library also offers programs designed to support environmental awareness and action. Our ongoing Master Gardener series includes events like the edible plants program in early April and an upcoming virtual program on Thursday, May 7, focused on best practices and the history of growing corn in home gardens. Register here: https://events.napalibrary.org/event/16236150
Past library programs have explored topics such as heat pumps, induction cooking, solar installation, battery backup systems and available rebates, offered in partnership with organizations including Napa Climate Now, the City of Napa and Napa County’s Planning, Building and Environmental Services (PBES).
These are all meaningful ways our patrons contribute to environmental sustainability.
Of course, the impact doesn’t come from your actions alone. Here are a few ways the library works behind the scenes to reduce our environmental footprint:
We circulate thousands of “things,” including games, telescopes, binoculars, tools, and more (things you can borrow, not buy). When parts go missing, we don’t immediately discard and replace the item. In many cases, we can request replacement parts from the manufacturer. Anything from a lens cap to a single audiobook disc is often purchased at a minimal cost and sometimes they’ll even ship it for free. We also repair items ourselves and create replacement parts using 3D printing. This approach allows us to keep items in circulation longer, often without patrons ever realizing a part has been replaced.
The animals, plants, and landscapes we cherish depend on thoughtful stewardship. And something I hope you’re already doing – visiting the library – plays a meaningful role in that effort.
Napa
The Napa Library is open seven days a week:
Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Call the library at (707) 253-4241
Or visit online at www.napalibrary.org/
Yountville
The Yountville Library is open Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Call the library at (707) 944-1888
Contact the author at [email protected]
Questions or suggestions for the Yountville Library Commissioner: [email protected]
Learn more about Friends of the Yountville Library be reaching out to: [email protected]
Calistoga
The Calistoga Library is open six days a week:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday: Noon to 8 p.m.
Call the library at (707) 942-4833
Or visit online at www.napalibrary.org/
American Canyon
The American Canyon Library is open six days a week:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday: Noon to 8 p.m.
Call the library at (707) 644-1136
Or visit online at www.napalibrary.org/
