Bike Week 2016

The Library Green Impact team is celebrating Bike Week 2016 this week with a selection of cycling themed material from our collections. We uncovered some hidden gems in our Special Collections, including this striking poster, from the Women’s Art Library:

Courtesy Women’s Art Library, Special Collections & Archives

and an embroidery piece, from the Goldsmiths Textile Collection:

Courtesy Goldsmiths Textile Collection

A selection of bicycle-related books and films from the main library collection is on display at the entrance to the Library, and available to borrow.

If you’re keen to cycle to the Library, you’ll find more than 320 secure, bike parking spaces on campus, including a number of covered spaces adjacent to the Rutherford Building, and showering facilities in the Richard Hoggart and Ben Pimlott Buildings. Goldsmiths Cycling Club organises bike fixing events and cycling days out throughout the year, and Doctor Bike is a regular visitor to the campus. This Thursday 16th June, you can get a free bike check up and maintenance outside the Education Building, between 10am and 4pm. Keep an eye on the @GreenGoldsmiths twitter page for upcoming visits.

Local cycling guide maps are available from Transport for London – you can pick some up from the Library entrance this week, or order some to be delivered to you for free from TfL. Also check out Cycle Streets for more routes recommended by seasoned riders.

Green Impact

Green Impact is a national environmental accreditation scheme, organised by the National Union of Students, which supports teams of staff in UK higher educational institutions to improve their environmental performance in the workplace.

Goldsmiths Library has participated in the scheme over the past four years, along with other departments in the college, with the assistance of the Goldsmiths Greening Department. We have worked to encourage environmentally responsible behaviour and sustainable practices in staff and students in the Library, such as recycling, and turning off lights and computer monitors when they are not being used. In particular, we targeted paper wastage in the library staff offices, and we were able to significantly reduce the number of printouts that are made by staff and generated by the Library Management System.

This June, the Library Green Impact team were thrilled to receive a Gold Award in recognition of our efforts.