Summer Recycling Drive

This summer we are going to do a variety of recycling and product drives in order to highlight ways to think beyond just one use. Though the ultimate goal is to reduce the amount that we use, recycling is a wise choice for the benefit of our earth.

You can see our decorated boxes rarin' to go, and we have an Eagle Scout volunteer set to box, deliver or ship our collected items. Though our program doesn't officially begin we've already collected about 100 eyeglasses, two pounds of crayons and 20 old phones. Each box was designed to fit neatly on the end of a shelving unit so it is visible yet out of our traffic paths.


Recycle Crocs
Croc shoes will be recycled through SolesUnited. This is unique program that recycles Crocs into a new product then distributed to countries in need (Haiti for example) for free. You may bring Crocs that you would like to recycle to the Library and place in the appropriate bin. Please note that shoes must be washed and clean before place in the bin.

Recycle Electronics
We will be collecting phones, PDAs, and other small electronics through Collective Good. Proceeds from our efforts through Collective Good will be donated to the Captain Planet Foundation, dedicated to creating environmental programs for children in grades K-12.

Recycle Glasses
We will be collecting eyeglasses to recycle through the Lions Club International. Glasses will be recycled and used to aid people in developing countries that have little or no access to eye care.

Recycle Crayons
Bring us your tired stubby nubs of crayons yearning to live again. We will be collecting crayons to send to a crayon recycling company called The Crayon Bin. For every pound of crayons we recycle we will receive a unique set of molded crayons that will be given away as a prize. Crayons are made from paraffin wax, a petroleum product. The less in landfills, the better!

Eco-Libris

I was contacted by a business called Eco-Libris, and after researching their information I'd really like to draw a little attention to them for all of us book folks. They strive to promote "sustainable reading" which essentially means planting trees to help replenish what we readers use in our book habits.

From their website:

Books are everywhere, just look around: on bookshelves at home, in college
students' backpacks, in the mail from the book club or in that pile in your room
right now. For some people they’re for education, for others they’re an
entertaining escapade and for some, reading is really a passion. Eco-Libris is
for everyone. It is a green business that enables people to do something
reasonable, affordable yet with an impact: plant one tree for every book they
read. We believe that taking responsibility for the environmental costs of the
books we read is only natural.

They also have gift card programs, swaps with Book Mooch and more.

Explore the site! It is a great concept for book lovers everywhere.

Handmade Prizes

Handmade gifts from our Etsy vendors are arriving to many oohs and aahs. Featured above is two handmade Memory Match games from MyShell of Craft-Crazy Thrift Spinner. The memory match games will go into the weekly drawing for the smaller program called "The Pebbles."

MyShell also made two incredibly cool bookbag/purses. The craftsmanship on these items is just amazing!

After kids complete the general program we will continue to have weekly drawings for our "large" prizes. MyShell's bookbags will be placed in this category. They are pictured to the left with one of our adult volunteers- - -but they are cut for the size of an adolescent.

We would like to take the opportunity to say thank-you to this very talented seamstress! She worked with our timeline and gave us a very deep discount on prize products.

Part of the goal of our program prize selections was to also go beyond our traditional offerings. This prize selection utilizes the talent in a small business and supports individual creative endeavors. Many of her fabrics are also refreshed, re-purposed or found through thrifty means.

Here is another view of a celestial themed bookbag. Enjoy!

Prizes and Reading Groups

We've settled on simplifying our prizes this year and offering ones that are made of natural elements whenever possible.

We are dividing our readers into levels as they "Rock" around the world. Each reading group reads a certain amount of books to reach their goals.

The Reading Groups

• Infants are The Pebbles (unique prize list TBA)


• Read-to-Me's are Arctic Explorers


• Beginning Readers are Mountain Climbers


• Jr. Chapter Books readers are Rainforest Readers


• Novel Length (150 pages or more) readers are Savanna Stars

We will be beginning registration on June 9th, and will award prizes from June 16th onward. The reading level is up to the patron, free choice. I'm actually rather lenient about registration, but do require a library card and that the books be checked out of our Library to count for the program.

Prizes

The prizes have been harder to work out this year as we needed to stay on a reasonable budget yet meet goals of eco-friendliness. I'm definitely not going to say that it's a perfect job, but like many new things it is a strong start. Our biggest "offender" if you will may be the jump rope. Although it is rope and wood it comes individually packaged and in a plastic wrap so that in itself is a waste.

I found precious few places to order toys of natural elements in bulk that would meet our needs. I did wind up using Oriental Trading and U.S. Toy with a bit of teeth gnashing, but stuck to items that were not made of plastic and would have a greater element of use of longevity. I'm hoping next year there may be more options springing up both locally and online.

But for the most part, much more eco-friendly and no plastic, less chemicals and no paint issues. We are spending about the same amount, but aren't giving away as many trinkets.

Goal #1-On the Forest Floor

Fair Trade Chocolate Coin from Fair Trade Online

Pencil with a world map imprint

DuPage Dragons Baseball Ticket

Goal #2-Lower Canopy
Bug Clicker (yes, annoying noises in the Library)

Windy City Thunderbolts Ticket

Pizza Coupon from a local shop

DuPage Children's Museum Ticket

Goal #3- Upper Canopy

Planting Table (kids will plant sunflowers---the Garden Club is sponsoring- - planted into peat pots featured above that they will color and then plant)

A recycled book of their choice (I save donations all year long)

A Kirschbaum's Cookie (a yummy local bakery they can walk to)

Goal #4 - Emergent Trees

A Jump Rope

Snackers Ice Cream Cone (a yummy shop they can walk to)

A coupon book put out by various vendors



Into the Atmosphere

After the kids reach all of their goals they can continue to read until the end of the program date. Each week we will draw a name from this pot for big prizes! They include:

Tickets to the Art Institute of Chicago

Cernan Space Center

Morton Arboretum

Coming soon: Shannon and Uma appear as Librarian Jones! World explorers in search of the perfect book! We're working on our script that will wow and astound all of the schools we visit in May.

If you look to the right I'm featuring more info about the program with a list of performers and other information. Expect another update featuring our contests and info on our Explorer Table.