flower The Library Goes Green....

“Green Features”
Of Long Branch Free Public Library

Follow City’s Recycling Rules: The libraries sort trash into labeled paper baskets throughout the building (Signage: MIXED PAPER – NO TRASH, BOTTLES & CANS – NO TRASH. TRASH – NO RECYCLABLES)

Staff goal adopted: Make the library paperless and eliminate plastic bags & plastic water bottles
Reduce, reuse, recycle - we recycle scrap paper from Faxes, print-outs, etc., for patron and staff use. We use clean side of the scrap paper to cut up into note paper or make Xerox copies and after that, we recycle

Renovated the library buildings: the renovated buildings are more energy efficient

Re-wired the facilities. We removed copper wiring and old wiring and no longer have energy fluctuations burning out HVAC motors
Added new lighting fixtures to replace old fluorescent lighting
Installed new cabling. The phone company installed a fiber optic cable connection. Main Library and Elberon Branch are connected to each other over the City's fiber ring
Installed a new phone system
Installed energy efficient HVAC& water heaters
Installed dropped ceilings & insulated walls
Installed window blinds in Carnegie section in library meeting rooms
Constructed new stairwell connecting all three floors. Taking the stairs saves electricity & wear and tear on the elevator
Set the thermostat to heat & cool during public service hours
Wireless available at both libraries. Many customers bring their
laptops to the library and save the cost of an internet service
provider at home
Public water fountain installed at both libraries
.Physical size of the building limits the collection size. We
have a capped collection, plus a large number of online
information resources that doesn’t take shelving space. Our
facilities physically house 115,000 items but by belonging to a
consortium, LMxAC, we offer our customers free borrowing of 10
MILL items. We can get multiple copies for book club meetings
through reciprocal borrowing. We subscribe to databases that our
customers can access to view and research from any computer at
any time. (EX: 37 databases paid for by State Library & Regions,
we subscribe to 9 databases, including NetLibrary for up-to-date
reference books). We provide ListenNJ for downloadable audio
books, paid for by LMxAC.) We microfilmed and recycled old
issues of local newspapers back to 1904

Educate the library staff and public to be environmentally sensitive
Green Bulletin Board (change monthly to keep the message fresh)
Green Corner Handouts (distribute materials with environmental information from government agencies and local organizations)
Show videos on environmental issues on small television (Main’s Audio Visual Area)
Lots of plants (Main’s foyer & 1st Fl window wall, Elberon’s bay window)
Send the staff emails to think before printing out an email and other energy saving reminders. We distribute information that the staff needs to know by emailing scanned reports or Word files instead of making paper copies.
Mount book, bulletin board and glass case displays to spotlight “green” issues
Hold three library programs in October to publicize Clean Energy Month, co-sponsored by Long Branch Environmental Commission
Provide free “Loan & Learn” kits for checkout. Home energy audit kits were donated by New Jersey Natural Gas Company.
2010 will be the 3rd year that the library staff signs up library visitors for Energy Pledges for the City’s “Change a Light, Change the World” campaign
.Sell inexpensive library tote bags for $1 & distribute “Welcome
Pack” for new customers in a tote bag
.Provide a shared network printer and copier on each floor for
customer and staff use
Turn off computers, monitors and copiers at closing and don’t
turn on microfilm or other machines unless they are being used
Provide a water fountain for the public and a water cooler for
the staff
Provide a booksale room for donated books. We pass unwanted
books on to deployed soldiers, prisons & other charitable groups.

Be a Team Player

The library actively participates in many shared service agreements that save money and maximize resources for the library. We belong to the LMxAC consortium that provides the library with our automation system, online catalog, and new cataloging records for new purchases. We share the cost of two computer support staff with the City. We get email hosting and website hosting free from the State Library. We are creating online content for the Virtual Career Center and Back-to-Work Webinars. We plan to start offering web based classes this winter. We enroll the staff in free or low cost staff training workshops that are offered nearby or online presented by the State Library Network. We stay “local” when possible to save work time, travel time and gasoline and buy in town when we can.


home Elberon Branch Children's Room Computers Online Research Teens Local History
Hours and Directions General Information Programs and Services Interlibrary Loans Databases Board of Trustees Our Staff Friends of the Library Volunteers	The Library Goes Green.... “Green Features” Of Long Branch Free Public Library Follow City’s Recycling Rules: The libraries sort trash into labeled paper baskets throughout the building (Signage: MIXED PAPER – NO TRASH, BOTTLES & CANS – NO TRASH. TRASH – NO RECYCLABLES) Staff goal adopted: Make the library paperless and eliminate plastic bags & plastic water bottles Reduce, reuse, recycle - we recycle scrap paper from Faxes, print-outs, etc., for patron and staff use. We use clean side of the scrap paper to cut up into note paper or make Xerox copies and after that, we recycle Renovated the library buildings: the renovated buildings are more energy efficient Re-wired the facilities. We removed copper wiring and old wiring and no longer have energy fluctuations burning out HVAC motors Added new lighting fixtures to replace old fluorescent lighting Installed new cabling. The phone company installed a fiber optic cable connection. Main Library and Elberon Branch are connected to each other over the City's fiber ring Installed a new phone system Installed energy efficient HVAC& water heaters Installed dropped ceilings & insulated walls Installed window blinds in Carnegie section in library meeting rooms Constructed new stairwell connecting all three floors. Taking the stairs saves electricity & wear and tear on the elevator Set the thermostat to heat & cool during public service hours Wireless available at both libraries. Many customers bring their laptops to the library and save the cost of an internet service provider at home Public water fountain installed at both libraries .Physical size of the building limits the collection size. We have a capped collection, plus a large number of online information resources that doesn’t take shelving space. Our facilities physically house 115,000 items but by belonging to a consortium, LMxAC, we offer our customers free borrowing of 10 MILL items. We can get multiple copies for book club meetings through reciprocal borrowing. We subscribe to databases that our customers can access to view and research from any computer at any time. (EX: 37 databases paid for by State Library & Regions, we subscribe to 9 databases, including NetLibrary for up-to-date reference books). We provide ListenNJ for downloadable audio books, paid for by LMxAC.) We microfilmed and recycled old issues of local newspapers back to 1904 Educate the library staff and public to be environmentally sensitive Green Bulletin Board (change monthly to keep the message fresh) Green Corner Handouts (distribute materials with environmental information from government agencies and local organizations) Show videos on environmental issues on small television (Main’s Audio Visual Area) Lots of plants (Main’s foyer & 1st Fl window wall, Elberon’s bay window) Send the staff emails to think before printing out an email and other energy saving reminders. We distribute information that the staff needs to know by emailing scanned reports or Word files instead of making paper copies. Mount book, bulletin board and glass case displays to spotlight “green” issues Hold three library programs in October to publicize Clean Energy Month, co-sponsored by Long Branch Environmental Commission Provide free “Loan & Learn” kits for checkout. Home energy audit kits were donated by New Jersey Natural Gas Company. 2010 will be the 3rd year that the library staff signs up library visitors for Energy Pledges for the City’s “Change a Light, Change the World” campaign .Sell inexpensive library tote bags for $1 & distribute “Welcome Pack” for new customers in a tote bag .Provide a shared network printer and copier on each floor for customer and staff use Turn off computers, monitors and copiers at closing and don’t turn on microfilm or other machines unless they are being used Provide a water fountain for the public and a water cooler for the staff Provide a booksale room for donated books. We pass unwanted books on to deployed soldiers, prisons & other charitable groups. Be a Team Player The library actively participates in many shared service agreements that save money and maximize resources for the library. We belong to the LMxAC consortium that provides the library with our automation system, online catalog, and new cataloging records for new purchases. We share the cost of two computer support staff with the City. We get email hosting and website hosting free from the State Library. We are creating online content for the Virtual Career Center and Back-to-Work Webinars. We plan to start offering web based classes this winter. We enroll the staff in free or low cost staff training workshops that are offered nearby or online presented by the State Library Network. We stay “local” when possible to save work time, travel time and gasoline and buy in town when we can. Click here to check out the City's Green Pages, find out what the city is doing to go green! Plenty of resources are available to help you go green as well!

“Green Features” Of Long Branch Free Public Library

“Green Features”
Of Long Branch Free Public Library