April and Earth Day

When April arrives, we know that daffodils will soon be emerging from their winter’s sleep, encouraging us to envision the spring time beauty of Utah. As I watch the new blooms’ triumphant return, I am reminded that Earth Day is just around the corner and I reflect on ways that the Marriott Library has engaged in numerous projects to make the facility and operations greener.

We have partnered with campus departments and students to change lighting fixtures to those that conserve energy, installed waterless urinals to reduce water usage, added solar panels to the roof, and initiated a recycling program.

We have also installed water bottle filling stations to reduce the consumption of one-use plastics. The Garden Terrace hosts drought resistant plants that keep the roof cooler in the summer. In collaboration with the U’s Beekeeping Association, we host bee hives in outdoor areas near the Library; wax from the hives are used by students in the Book Arts Program.

In celebration of Earth Day, and in collaboration with ASUU and the Sustainability Center, we’ll be hosting a “Cli-Fi” reading discussion on April 14 and I hope you can join in.

We look forward to engaging in new projects that make the campus greener and more sustainable, and we hope you can join us to celebrate spring and all it promises.

Warmest regards,

Alberta Comer

Dean of Libraries