Lincoln Public Library goes green

[April 21, 2009]  Last year, over 100 billion plastic shopping bags were used in the United States alone. Groceries, retail stores, restaurants, video stores and even our own public library all use plastic bags to package our purchases, DVDs and our borrowed books.

Plastic bags have a very low recycling rate: only 1 percent to 3 percent currently in the U.S. Plastic bags don't degrade easily in the natural environment or in landfills. In fact they do not biodegrade, they photo-degrade, which can take up to 1,000 years, breaking into smaller and smaller particles, which are often toxic to surrounding ecosystems.

The Lincoln Public Library, in a celebration of Earth Day on April 22, will begin selling reusable bags for library users to transport books to and from the library. The 100 percent recyclable bags are made from recycled materials and will sell for $1.25 each. The green bags feature a tree motif with books as the foliage.

Deb DeJarnette of the library said that the library wanted to stop buying costly plastic bags and instead go with an earth-friendly approach and offer the reusable bags for public purchase.

In these tight economic times, don't overlook your local public library as an inexpensive source of entertainment. Stop by and check out the selection of books, DVDs, audio tapes and programs, and support the Lincoln Public Library's efforts to go green.

[Text from file received from Mitzi Rohlfs, coordinator, Logan County Joint Solid Waste Agency]