UCD Green Library: UCD Green Library

The Loop is UCD’s craft and repair café. Located on Level 4 of the James Joyce Library, The Loop is a room contain all the materials students and staff need for repairing or upcycling clothing; for knitting, sewing, embroidery and lots of other crafts. There is a working sewing machine ready to use at any time during Library opening hours. The Loop is part of a Community of Sharing and participants offer skill sharing opportunities through drop in welcome sessions and structured workshops.

The UCD Library of Things is the first of its kind in an Irish university. By borrowing items, students and staff are supporting a Community of Sharing, promoting sustainability, equity, and reduced waste. All items can be borrowed for free by students and staff of the university. Here you can find a full list of items. This project was launched at the end of February 2025 and students and staff can suggest items for purchase.

UCD Library contributes to the Circular Economy through our practice of upcycling, recycling and rehoming old furniture. 

In line with this focus on sustainability, UCD Library, as part of the Capital Development Project , sought to up-cycle as much of the old furniture as possible, offering it to local communities, helping to divert it from landfill, and reducing the overall carbon footprint of the project. This important UCD’s community engagement initiative, also helped to build and enhance UCD relationships with community-based organisations. The majority of the  upcycled study desks and chairs, were original to the Library when it was build in the 1970's.

The Library, working with UCD Warp It, a web based, furniture reuse platform (part of the a Green Campus initiative managed by UCD Estates) - and Facebook Marketplace,  recycled 100s of items, inc. study tables, chairs, and office equipment,  to: Primary and Secondary schools; Gaelscoils, Community Centres; After School Programmes, a Men’s Shed, John Of Gods, Dublin Civil Defense, A new autism centre, in a school in Graystones; individuals in the UCD community and a Romanian Orthodox Church, Cultural Missionary Centre.

The UCD Library Furniture Recycling Team were awarded a UCD Values in Action award 

Photo credit: Mercedes Blanco Martin

The James Joyce Library features a variety of plants throughout the open study spaces on Level 3 and in the staff offices.

Level 3: Enhancing User Experience with Greenery

Plants on Level 3 offer multiple benefits, including:

• Air purification: Plants naturally filter the air by absorbing pollutants and releasing oxygen.
• Aesthetic appeal: Greenery adds visual interest and beauty to the space.
• Stress reduction and well-being: The presence of plants contributes to a calming atmosphere that supports the health and well-being of library users.
• Welcoming environment: Plants create a pleasant and inviting atmosphere for study and work.

The green area is a key feature of the Health Sciences Library’s design since its opening in 2007.

Level 2: Staff-Led Plant Propagation Project

Since 2024, a small and dedicated team of library staff has been propagating plants for their offices on Level 2. As loose cuttings and baby plants mature, they offer them to staff in other areas of the UCD Library.

This pilot project:

• Is low-cost to maintain.
• Reinforces sustainability through the ‘reduce, recycle, and reuse’ (3R’s) approach.
• Highlights staff commitment to creating greenery in working spaces.
• Contributes positively to staff health and well-being.

One staff member shared:
"It makes me smile every morning and somehow I feel connected to nature while indoors in the office."

Benefits of Having Plants in Working Spaces

1. Improving air quality
   Plants act as natural air purifiers by absorbing pollutants and releasing oxygen during photosynthesis.
2. Maintaining humidity levels
   Through transpiration, plants release moisture into the air, countering dryness caused by air conditioning or heating systems.
3. Supporting biophilic design principles
   Incorporating live plants aligns with biophilic design—a philosophy that acknowledges the innate human need to connect with nature and integrates natural elements into built environments.
4. Enhancing well-being and atmosphere
   Plants contribute to a more relaxed, positive, and healthier work environment.
5. Aesthetic and acoustic benefits
   Greenery adds natural beauty to office décor and can help absorb sound, reducing noise levels.

UCD Library has just won an IFLA Green Library Award!  UCD Library had been shortlisted under the "Green Library Project" category along with four international libraries, the project is titled "Beyond the Lifecycle: Libraries Supporting the Circular Economy"..  A total of 44 applications were received by IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations), the winning announcement took place in Barcelona on 8 October 2024.  Many Congratulations to our Green Team of librarians!

The full report can be accessed from the UCD Library Research Repository.