UCD Green Library: Projects and Campaigns

Projects

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. See our schedules of activities below.

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.

The Loop Craft Café Schedule
A schedule of activities taking place in The Loop during Trimester 1 2025/2026.
The Loop October 2025 Workshops
Four workshops are scheduled for Weeks 7-8

In 2022 UCD Library, in partnership with the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine and UCD Estates, refurbished the Vet Library. Work included the provision of additional study rooms and a 17% increase in study desks (including new sit-stand desks). The Information Desk, instead of being replaced, was resized and repositioned. This work contributed to the Circular Economy, and highlights our commitment to upcycling, recycling and rehoming furniture, where ever possible.

We recycled and repurposed the information desk

We reupholstered chairs instead of buying new ones

We acquired second hand chairs and group study tables from UCD Warpit

We reused ends of bays to encase some of wall shelving units

LED lights were added at ceiling height, reducing energy consumption

This competition was run in 2021 and is now closed.

Looking through the green lens (project details)

All final submission videos can be viewed on our YouTube channel

The Loop

Craft Café Schedule

Workshops @ The Loop

We have four workshops scheduled for Weeks 7 and 8 (21-29 October). See the schedule here. No booking is necessary, just show up on a first-come, first-served basis.

Halloween-themed The Loop workshop schedule poster

UCD Bike Library Pilot Programme

UCD Energy Institute, in partnership with UCD Library, ran a pilot bike lending programme for members of the UCD community to demonstrate the potential for e-mobility to transform commuting patterns and reduce transport emissions. The UCD Bike Library pilot was the first of its kind in Ireland to offer bike lending through a traditional library service. The pilot scheme used the Library’s role at the heart of campus to enable e-bikes or folding bikes to be lent to members of the UCD community for a six week period. This pilot scheme is now ended.