Join the University of Dundee Libraries in celebrating Green Libraries Week 2024, a celebration of sustainability, environmental awareness, and creativity. This week will feature hands-on workshops, inspiring talks, and a focus on eco-friendly practices across our campuses. Whether you’re a student, staff member, or member of the public, you’ll find a range of activities designed to inspire a greener future.
Here’s what’s in store for Green Libraries Week:
Monday 7 October 2024
Zine Workshop with Coin Operated Press
Time: 12 noon – 2:30 pm
Location: Finlay Room, DJCAD Library
Kick off the week creatively by designing your own zine with Coin Operated Press! This interactive workshop offers a unique way to explore sustainability through art. All materials are provided, and no experience is needed. Open to all University of Dundee members, this is the perfect opportunity to express your creativity while engaging with eco-friendly themes. Register here!
Everyday Sustainability for Students
Time: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: CreateSpace, Main Library
Join Matilda Hyland for an engaging discussion on how sustainability connects to student life and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Learn practical ways to apply sustainable practices to your studies, campus activities, and personal habits, while critically examining the origins of the products you use. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a positive impact! Register here!
Tuesday 8 October 2024
Broughty Ferry Beach Clean-Up
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Meeting Point: The Global Room, University of Dundee
Join us for a Beach Clean Up as part of the sustainable menstruation campaign! Meet at Global Room at 1. pm. Buses leave from the tower building at 1.15 pm and will return at 3.15 pm. Did you know that menstrual health products comprise of up to 85% plastics? Unfortunately, many of these products end up in Scottish waters, polluting our beautiful beaches and harming marine life. Together, we can make a difference by cleaning up our shores and raising awareness about eco-friendly alternatives. Let’s take action to reduce waste, protect our environment, and support sustainable menstrual health. Please help us keep Scotland beautiful and preserve our coastlines for future generations.
Register here!
Succulents and Sustainability
Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Kirkcaldy Campus Library
Feeling green? Get hands-on with sustainability by planting your own succulent to take home. This is a fun, relaxing way to connect with nature and reflect on eco-friendly habits. Simply drop in, no registration is required!
Clothes Repair – Sewing Machine Workshop
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: CreateSpace, Main Library
Join us for a hands-on clothes repair workshop run by The Wardrobe, focused on hemming, patching holes, and sewing buttons—perfect for giving your clothes a new lease on life! The session will begin with an introduction to Transition Dundee and its sustainability efforts. If you have your own sewing machine, you’re welcome to drop in without registering and bring it along. Feel free to bring any article of clothing you’d like to learn to repair. All materials will be provided. Register here!
Wednesday 9 October 2024
Upcycled Denim: Paint Your Own Custom Patches
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: CreateSpace, Main Library
Explore your creative side while learning to upcycle old denim into custom-painted patches in this hands-on workshop. Bring along your own worn denim pieces or pre-loved ones, and jazz them up using supplies from CAN Depot. You’ll discover how to cut and paint denim patches using eco-friendly techniques, and pick up basic hand-sewing skills to attach your custom creations to clothes, bags, or accessories. No prior sewing experience is needed—just bring your imagination, and we’ll provide everything else! Let’s give old denim new life and give your wardrobe a sustainable makeover. Register here!
Fabric Bookmark & Book Nook Workshop
Time: 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm, 9th October
Location: CreateSpace, Main Library
Come along for a fun and creative workshop hosted by the Book Society, where you can craft your own fabric bookmarks and book nooks using scrap fabric, cardboard, and other upcycled materials. As part of Green Libraries Week, this event promotes zero-waste practices and encourages sustainability through art. All materials are provided, and everyone is welcome! Register now!
Film Screening: Why Not Scotland?
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: Dalhousie, Lecture Theatre 3
Audience: Open to UoD members and the public
Across mainland Europe, nature is making a dramatic recovery. Wildlife is returning, forests are expanding, rivers are being set free and wetlands restored. As nature bounces back, people are returning too, finding new economic opportunities and enjoying the many benefits of a revitalised landscape. So, if rewilding can happen elsewhere in Europe, why not Scotland?
We invite you to a special screening of “Why Not Scotland”. Following the screening, there will be a short discussion and a Q&A session with a sustainability expert, giving you the chance to engage in conversation about Scotland’s role in global environmental efforts and how we can all contribute to a more sustainable future. Register here!
Thursday 10 October 2024
Trash to Treasure: Art Installations Using Beach Trash
Time: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: CreateSpace, Main Library
Using waste products and debris collected during the Broughty Ferry beach clean-up, we’ll transform discarded materials into stunning textiles, sculptures, jewellery, or anything your imagination can create. The talented staff at CreateSpace and DJCAD Fine Arts graduate and sculptress Eleanor McGavin will guide you in achieving your creations. All art materials will be provided. Whether you’re a budding artist, interested in sustainability, or just looking to try something creative, come along and turn this beach waste into beach beauty while helping the environment. Let’s turn trash into treasures and inspire a more sustainable future! Register here!
Green Library Tour
Time: 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm
Location: Main Library – Infozone
Join us for a special Green Library Tour at the University of Dundee, where we’ll explore the library’s eco-friendly initiatives and sustainable practices. Discover how we’re reducing energy use, managing waste, and promoting environmental consciousness through our collections, services, and events. From energy-efficient lighting to recycling programmes, you’ll get an inside look at how libraries can contribute to a greener future. Register here!
Zine Workshop with The Magdalen
Time: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: CreateSpace, Main Library
Join The Magdalen for a creative zine-making workshop focused on sustainability, activism, and environmental themes! Learn how to craft a zine from scratch, repurposing various materials to reflect on the second life of the objects around you. Challenge your creativity as we explore the power of zines in raising awareness for sustainability. Materials and guidance are provided—just bring your creativity! Celebrate Green Libraries Week by turning waste into art, while advocating for a more sustainable future! Register here!
Fibre Arts Session
Time: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm, 10th October
Location: CreateSpace, Main Library
Join Dr Shona Mason for a relaxing Fibre Arts session where you can explore various techniques, including Tatreez, crochet, knitting, cross-stitching, and embroidery. Whether you’re a beginner looking to learn new skills or a seasoned crafter working on your own project, this is the perfect opportunity to unwind, chat, and embrace the principles of slow fashion.
Everyone is welcome—no prior experience necessary! Register now!
Friday 11 October 2024
Sustainable Learning Discussion (UoD staff only)
Time: 11:45 am – 12:45 pm
Location: Eduzone, Main Library / MS Teams
This staff-focused discussion for Green Libraries Week will explore sustainable practices within learning environments. Key topics may include the environmental advantages of using digital resources over traditional print materials, strategies to reduce paper consumption, and promoting eco-friendly study habits among students. Staff will also have the opportunity to exchange ideas on integrating sustainability into curriculum design and campus activities, helping to create a more environmentally conscious learning community. It’s a great chance to collaborate and share insights on how to make education at the University of Dundee more sustainable! Register here!
Sustainability Reads: Share, Reflect, Discuss
Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: CreateSpace, Main Library
Bring your favourite book on sustainability, environmental activism, or eco-friendly living, and share your favourite paragraph or sentence with the group. After reading, we’ll have an open discussion on the themes and ideas presented, fostering dialogue and learning from each other’s perspectives. Let’s exchange ideas, inspire one another, and deepen our understanding of sustainability through the power of words. Whether you’re passionate about climate change, zero waste, or ethical living, this event is for everyone! Register here!
Fabric Mending with Caitlin Penny
Time: 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
Location: CreateSpace, Main Library
Join us for a hands-on Fabric Mending Workshop with Caitlin Penny and learn simple hand-sewing techniques to repair and revitalise your clothes. Bring your worn-out items, or use fabric provided by CreateSpace, to practice your new skills. All materials will be provided, so you can start mending and embrace sustainable fashion. No experience needed—come along and learn how to extend the life of your wardrobe! Register here!
Sunday 13 October 2024
Talk: “Leave No Trace in the Great Scottish Outdoors”
Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location: Strawberry Bank, Main Library
End the week with an insightful talk on the Great Scottish Outdoors, delivered by a representative from Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and Black Scottish Adventurers. This session will explore the challenges of biodiversity, conservation, and the impact of climate change on Scotland’s natural landscapes. The speakers will also highlight the importance of leaving no trace, fostering sustainability, and promoting diversity and inclusion in outdoor activities and environmental conservation. Register now!
All Week: 7-13 October 2024
Minimalism Meets Sustainability: Donate Books!
Simplify your lives and contribute to a more sustainable future by donating books to our Better World Books donation bin, located in CreateSpace. By clearing out books you no longer need, you can embrace minimalism while helping to reduce waste and promote literacy worldwide.
We welcome a variety of books, including textbooks, novels, reference materials, and children’s books. Your contributions can make a significant impact—supporting education for those in need while fostering a more sustainable environment. Let’s come together to create a cleaner, greener campus—every book makes a difference!
For more information on how your donations are used, visit Better World Books.
Sustainability Curated Book Display
Location: Main Library Foyer
Discover a selection of environmentally focused books and materials at our curated Sustainability book display, located in the Main Library Foyer. Explore thought-provoking titles on climate change, sustainable living, and environmental activism. For more information or to access the digital version of the curated list, visit here.
Join us at Green Libraries Week for an exciting journey through sustainability, creativity, and community. Whether you’re creating art, repairing clothes, or hiking with nature, there’s an event for everyone to enjoy.