Feb 09, 2016 Busy Bees

Did you know that the Marriott Library houses honeybee hives? In 2013, after being approached by the U of U’s Beekeeping Association, the library found a spot for several hives that are maintained by students and faculty at the U.

Over the past couple of years, the hives at the Marriott Library have expanded in number and become extremely productive… so productive that the U of U’s Beekeepers can produce 1-ounce bars of beeswax for sale at the Marriott Library. The wax is sold in the Book Arts Studio for use in bookbinding. So when the students reach for a bar to wax their thread, they are able to use locally produced materials from the library.

Amy Sibul, Associate Instructor/Community Engagement Coordinator in the U’s Biology Department, and Stephen Stanko, a student and a beehive inspector at the Utah Department of Agriculture, are the leaders in maintaining the hives and harvesting the wax for the bars.

Ian Godfrey, Facilities and Operations Director at the Marriott Library, has been working with the beekeepers from the start. “It’s really great to see that the bees are thriving, and we are able to connect the value and rewards of beekeeping to other academic programs within the library,” explains Ian, “I’ve used the Marriott Library beeswax in my book projects, and it’s incredible to consider it was made right here.”

Amy comments, “We’re so grateful for the support from and collaboration with the Marriott Library. Together we’ve been able to raise awareness about pollinator conservation, the importance of honeybees, and the fact that the U of U campus is habitat for many different organisms.”

The University of Utah Beekeeper’s Association is open to all students and employees of the U who would like to be involved and learn the art and science of beekeeping. You can visit their Facebook page to learn more.

Also be sure to check out this KSL video, “Capturing the Bees’ Lives with Infrared Cameras”, that features the library’s hives and tells the story of how Stephen is using infrared cameras to determine the health of backyard beehives during the winter months.