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NU Library says think before you print

Paperless MonthThe Library is hosting their fifth annual April PaperLESS Month, an initiative that encourages students, faculty, and staff to reconsider their printing habits to reduce unnecessary printing.

The Library encourages anyone who passes through the public printing areas in the Information Commons to think before they print. If printing is truly necessary, there are a few tips for reducing the amount of paper used:

  • Printing double-sided
  • Reducing margin size
  • Using print preview, especially when printing online articles with comments or ads
  • Printing to online PDF instead of paper

In addition to the PaperLESS Month initiative, the Library Environmental Committee (LEC) has developed programs to encourage staff members to reduce, reuse, and recycle all year long. This includes book swaps, coat drives, and offering free coffee every Wednesday to co-workers who bring their own mug. And the LEC composts coffee grounds.

The Library is currently piloting the Office of Sustainability’s Green Office Certification, a program that encourages the entire office or department to assess their everyday actions and behaviors and create a more sustainable workplace. University Library Branch Manager Elizabeth Adamczyk believes all these initiatives are important in making the Library a cleaner, greener, and healthier place to work, stating, “even small actions can add up to make a big impact.”

If you are interested in putting on a paperLESS month in your office, contact the Library Environmental Committee for advice.