At a glance
This project will create a Little Free Library in Grieg Garden, outside the HUB, providing easy access to books for students,… Read full summary
- Funding received
- 2023-2024
- Small
- Awarded
- $1,500
- Funding partners
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- Services and Activities Fee (SAF)
This project will create a Little Free Library in Grieg Garden, outside the HUB, providing easy access to books for students, faculty, and visitors. The library will promote literacy, sustainability, and community by encouraging book sharing and reducing paper waste. Students and departments can donate textbooks, leisure books, and other materials, with additional support from local bookstores like Magus and Third Place Books.
Funds will cover building materials, weatherproofing, a charter sign, book purchases, and artwork by a local muralist. The library will serve as an inclusive space for interdisciplinary learning and connection across campus.
I’m planning to build a Little Free Library, in the Grieg Garden outside the Hub. The area is not under the direct administration of any department, and we’ve been approved by UW Grounds. This will serve as a central location and provide easy access for students using the Student Union and on the everyday walk to class. It is a spot where many faculty members spend a quiet moment, such that they may also utilize the library. This project will have multiple purposes - creating communities focused on increasing overall literacy, fostering conversations around new knowledge and stories, and promoting sustainability around paper waste.
Little Free Libraries’ have had a history of being utilized for their sustainability, and their global aim is to reduce paper waste and promote an eco-friendly reading culture. The use of donated books is a part of that sustainable aspect, and I’ve spoken to various departmental heads about using their old materials. Students would be able to donate recreational or leisure books, as well as old textbooks and academic materials. We hope to further incorporate local businesses, and I’ve reached out to independent bookstores Magus and Third Place Books. They are both open to this idea and have offered to either offer their old materials or offer material for reduced price (included in budget). It will be an interdisciplinary place of learning, in which all students across UW can come together for inclusive
knowledge.
We need money to purchase building materials, construct the little free library and make sure it’s winterized, buy a charter sign, maintain it on campus, and potentially purchase more books from Magus and Third Place. I purpose extra funds for maintenance of the Little Free Library as the weather changes, as well as costs for incorporating art from local muralist Henry. I’m budgeting 1,500 dollars for the project. The project should be completed by the end of Spring 2024 as some of my fellow students hope for it to be part of their graduation here.
Request amount and budget
Plans for financial longevity
Since this is a one time project, after CSF funding ends it should remain in the Grieg Garden for the foreseeable future. Part of the plan will be to construct a library to withstand time, which we will do by implementing a sealed roof, magnetic door, covering the structure with weather protective paint and foam rubber on the inside edge of the door.
Within 2 weeks after funding deposited:
-Purchase the building materials
- Gather donated books from departments looking to give away material
- Construct the ‘library’-physical box
Over the next 2 months:
-Prepare Grieg Garden for construction
-Build up enthusiasm on social media
- Acquire books from Magus/ Third Place
By the end of Spring 2024 quarter:
-Collected a good variety of literary materials
- Completed Little Free Library with Charter Sign
- Opening ceremony in Grieg Garden
Plans for long-term project management
My project team mirrors the interdisciplinary part of the project, with members in Foster, ESRM, Engineering, Design and LSJ. The long term goal is to maintain the project for 5 years- I have individuals on my team in younger grades who plan to continue the social media and upkeep, and a big part of the social media will be to generate the younger generations for the project.
Problem statement
I’ve noticed an overabundance of high quality books that end up dismantled and disregarded both across campus and in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Problem context
Paper waste takes up 26% of all landfill waste, causing deforestation and using an enormous amount of water. The City of Seattle has passed a ban on all commercial customers, including the UW, from tossing clean paper in the garbage rather than recycling. Pat Kaufman, the UW operations director says its implementation is due to -tremendous amount of paper in all its categories of waste — commercial, residential and academic.”
Communication tactics and tools
I plan to create a social media for the Little Free Library to promote its opening, and track the building progress. Once it’s completed, I hope to keep posting any exciting updates and featuring the variety of materials that are donated/acquired from local businesses.
Outreach communication plan
I’m hoping to have a grand opening for the Little Free Library and maintain a social media presence after it has been established. Since it’s an interdisciplinary library all communities should benefit, from students to staff and visitors at the UW.
Student involvement
This is a pretty short term project in terms of establishment, so there shouldn’t be any complementary applied student research necessary. The only possible volunteer opportunity I imagine would be procuring new material from other bookstores/ thrift stores within the greater neighborhood or from other departments on the UW campus.