Skip to content
Skip to navigation menu

 

More sustainable libraries

The University Library Service is making a significant contribution to the sustainability aspirations of Information Services (INSRV) and the University. A range of enhancements to several library buildings and the creation of effective learning spaces demonstrate this. More efficient working processes have also been introduced.

More sustainable library buildings

The computer bar at Trevithick Library

The computer bar at Trevithick Library

The refurbishment of the Trevithick Library has allowed INSRV to improve heating, cooling and lighting efficiency in partnership with the University's Estates division and School of Architecture. This will also lead to positive lessons for future library developments such as the Library Review. 

INSRV has also worked in partnership with the University's Estates division to replace over 600 inefficient, 30-year-old fluorescent light fittings throughout the Arts and Social Studies Library with new, higher-efficiency, higher-quality lighting. 

The new tube life is also approximately three times that of the old fluorescent tubes, thus also reducing lamp replacement costs, embodied energy and landfill. 

The work (£180,000 investment) was funded as part of the University's carbon reduction commitment programme, and is predicted to save around £25,000 per year in energy costs, and 125 tonnes of CO2, and save an additional £7,000 per year in maintenance costs.


Saving space and transport with electronic journals

Out of 16,000 University journal titles, only 1500 are not available electronically. Online content allows direct access from the desk - reducing time, space, transportation and paper, while allowing better availability, electronic searching and data manipulation. The growing availability of eBooks means that lower numbers of print copies can be purchased for some popular titles.

Through the use of electronic resources, the IT server virtualisation programme and making available more efficient printing and photocopying services, we aim to minimise the environmental impact of library resources while maximising the value and ease-of-use of our services.


Electronic inter-library loans

Secure Electronic Delivery (SED) is now the default for our inter-library loan service, which is replacing the previous default paper-based service. This development is leading to a major reduction in transport carbon (and waiting time) between Cardiff University and other institutions. Online requesting is also now being introduced, ultimately leading to a reduction in the number of printed forms used.


More efficient library catalogue terminals 

INSRV has replaced 100 older standard library catalogue search PCs with "Sun ray" thin client terminals, each consuming about one tenth of the power of the original PCs.


student using a photocopier

More efficient printing and photocopying

  • Duplex (double-sided) printing. This feature is enabled where possible and is available to students in the Cathays campus libraries, Health Studies libraries, study centres and IT rooms. For more information, please see the Network Printing page. There is also a quick guide on how to use duplex printing linked on the right of that page.
  • A double-sided staffed photocopying service (loose leaf only) is available from all Graphic Services units reducing both costs and the use of paper 
  • All self-service photocopiers in libraries initiate a 'power save' mode when not in use
  • All printer cartridges are recycled.

Donating and recycling older books and journals

For books and paper journals, we aim to send zero to landfill through:

  • donating books to good causes when they go beyond their immediate life at Cardiff University - for example, INSRV made a book donation to the University of Gambia in May 2008 in partnership with the University's Communications and International Relations Division
  • recycling those that can't be re-used.

Educational Awards in Sierra Leone (EASL)

Since 1999, the Directorate has provided community health information for poverty alleviation in Sierra Leone - part funded by the Department for International Development's DelPHE (Development Partnerships in Higher Education) scheme and the Welsh Assembly Government. This has included working in the local communities, and developing locally-appropriate health information to help fight extreme poverty and hunger, to reduce child mortality and to combat disease. The partnership also provides educational support for school students and 'EASL: Educational Awards in Sierra Leone' became an officially recognised charity earlier this year.

Find out more about EASL...