Monday, September 14, 2009

GIFSL* 41: bins

To borrow a line from Paul Kelly, From little things, big things grow...
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One of the first things I noticed in this library when I tottered through the door nearly ten years ago (and I do mean tottered, it was one of the worst looking libraries I'd ever seen, and little used) was the bins.

Not a major issue, you might think.  But the bins, then, were old, thumped and battered ribbed metal wastepaper baskets - that was the few better ones - or cut-down plastic chemical containers, recycled to this purpose.  Recycling has of course its important place, but the bins really bothered me.  Symptomatic of 'it'll do' and 'it doesn't matter' and a whole lot of things that were wrong with the place.  Not the biggest place to begin, but I scouted out a replacement - cheerful plastic wastepaper bins such as you can buy at Ikea or Bunnings for well under $5 each - and every darn one of those shabby bins left the building.  I've since had to add a few more, here and there, and so we have a mix of blue, red and white ones (depending on the colour/s available at time of buying).  It's an easy and cheap fix to try.

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There ended up being more bins in the library than there had been before - only a few more for our lovely cleaner to have to empty each day, but carefully located so it's easy to find one and put rubbish in there rather than not in a bin.  Which also enhances the library environment.

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I've never had a kid comment on the nice bins, but even such a little detail is part of the library's message.  Nice things here.  Setting a standard to make it pleasant and spick.  We care about this place, and how it is for you.  Right down to details such as nice bins.  Welcome.
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How are the bins at your place? 
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Cheers
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Ruth
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*GIFSL: Good ideas for school libraries
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1 comment:

Audrey Nay said...

Our bins are all blue so that the kids can find them easily. Being a primary school I felt that the one colour simplified things. I agree with you though-the bins I had when I first went there were shabby and dirty. The new ones match other accessories and do brighten up the place:-)