Transcript Recycled Reads

Recycled Reads, the Austin Public Library’s used bookstore, reuse,
repurpose, and recycling center opened to the public in February,
2009 to provide a sustainable option for weeded and donated
materials.
Over almost seven years Recycled Reads has:
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Processed over 2 million items
Diverted 1225 tons from landfills
Received the 2014 IMLS Sparks! Ignition Grant
Received the 2015 Library Journal Mover and Shaker
Award for Innovation
Primary materials fall into
four basic categories:
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Books
VHS, Audio Cassette and related media
DVDs, CDs and Books on tape and Cd
Vinyl Records
Recycled Reads handles 60,000-70,000 items per month
Books:
• Reuse: Recycled Reads tries to sell as many books as
possible through our storefront and online store to
raise revenue for the Austin Public Library
• Repurpose: Books that cannot be sold due to
condition, relevancy of information and quantity, are
turned is to decorative items (see below)
• Recycling: Books that cannot be reused or repurposed
due to condition, quantity, demand, available
labor/volunteers are sent for recycling with our
partner Goodwill of Central Texas
• Availability: Recycled Reads’ constant supply of books
exceeds what we can reuse or repurpose. COA does
not allow giving of material, but we can set price
(pennies per lb.). Materials would need to be picked
up.
VHS and Audio
Reuse: Recycled Reads tries to sell as many tapes as possible through
our storefront to raise revenue for the Austin Public Library. While we
can sell commercial tapes, we are not allowed to sell privately
produced tapes.
Repurpose: Recycled Reads has attempted to make items such as
handbags and decorative items, but stopped due to concerns about
toxicity. We are also limited by demand and man hours to produced
repurposed items. We did learn about Sonic Fabric made by Alyce
Santoro who weaves audio tapes into materials for neckties and
other custom clothing on a vintage loom. Her process is not
proprietary and she is only using audio.
Recycling: Currently Austin Resource Recovery pick up and stores
materials until a solution can be found. They collect from 2,000-3500
tapes from us per month. We have over 1,000 tapes as inventory.
Availability: Recycled Reads’ constant supply of VHS exceeds what we
can reuse or repurpose. COA does not allow giving of material, but
we can set price (pennies per lb.). Materials would need to be picked
up.
Vinyl:
Reuse: Recycled Reads tries to sell as many vinyl records as possible
through our storefront to raise revenue for the Austin Public Library.
Repurpose: Recycled Reads has attempted to make decorative items,
We are also limited by demand and man hours to produced
repurposed items. Several optometry retailers offer eyeglass frames
made out of vinyl records. The only manufacturer we found is in
Hungary.
Recycling: Currently Austin Resource Recovery pick up and stores
materials until a solution can be found..
Availability: Recycled Reads ’supply of vinyl does not exceed demand
except for damaged items. COA does not allow giving of material, but
we can set price (pennies per lb.). Materials would need to be picked
up.
Recycled Reads and the Austin Public Library are
proud of the sustainable model we have created
for books and media. We hope our excess
materials can be incorporated into durable
products or artwork.
Folks in the organic farming movement often
ask: “Do you know where your food comes
from?” They want people to be aware that bread
does not come from the grocery store. There is a
process around the mass production of loaves
that has an impact on the environment.
We want to make consumers aware that
books don’t just come from libraries and
bookstores. Publishers make production
decisions that have environmental
consequences.
We hope that the lifecycle of materials we
bring into APL, extends beyond the checkout
process.