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| photo from www.msr-making.com |
A paradigm is a commonly accepted view of something. A model of what is typical.
A paradigm shift is a change in thinking, a transformation of the accepted view into something new.
Paradigm shifts are caused by change agents, or things that happen to change people’s perspectives.
In the last century, libraries have experienced a huge paradigm shift. We have come a long way, baby:
We have learned how our choices effect our environment.
We have learned that our resources are limited.
We have learned that all people deserve equal access to the library.
We have learned that libraries and other buildings can be used flexibly, for many different purposes.
We have learned that libraries should be monuments to communities, not just legacies to individuals.
Last but not least...libraries are FUN!
In the 21st century, when a library is built or renovated people expect them to meet these new criteria. Gone are the intricate columns, flights of marble steps, acres of precious wood and dark interiors. In their place we welcome new spaces like the Roseville Library, located outside Minneapolis/St. Paul in Minnesota.
To say that Roseville, MN is a commercial hub is an understatement. If you need to buy something (anything) you can find it in Roseville. It is a thriving city with a population of 33,000 and, after shopping, the resident love to go to the library. In the last twenty years, library circulation increased by 70% and by 2007 there were 234 people stopping by the library every hour it was open. It is the busiest library in Minnesota. The county approved a $15.6 million budget, the library received $780,000 in grants and a major renovation began.
Instead of starting over, or tacking on, Roseville went up and added a story. They were able to reuse 75% of the original building to create what looks like a totally new, fresh, modern library. They even reused the original roof as the new second story floor! Check out their photo gallery and if you don’t get excited than check your pulse. It is the first LEED building in Ramsey County (see my post for more about what this means) and, like the other green libraries I’ve seen, has a young, fun vibe.
So what else did they reuse in Roseville? For starters they used the sun to light up the interior and rain to water the garden. They resurfaced an old fireplace from the original library, purchased garden benches made from recycled from milk jugs and chairs made of recycled yogurt containers. They were even able to recycle 97% of the construction waste so it could be reused!
Our paradigm for re-using is changing as well.
Just like the library we are reconsidering what should be thrown out and what can be recycled or reused.
Rapidly filling landfills are a powerful and frightening change agent.
In the last few decades we have learned that recycling is good but reusing is better. If you can give an item a second life then you save the time, energy and fuel needed to recycle it. How can you adapt to this new paradigm? There are many little ways to get the job done.
How can you reuse
A paradigm shift is a change in thinking, a transformation of the accepted view into something new.
Paradigm shifts are caused by change agents, or things that happen to change people’s perspectives.
In the last century, libraries have experienced a huge paradigm shift. We have come a long way, baby:
We have learned how our choices effect our environment.
We have learned that our resources are limited.
We have learned that all people deserve equal access to the library.
We have learned that libraries and other buildings can be used flexibly, for many different purposes.
We have learned that libraries should be monuments to communities, not just legacies to individuals.
Last but not least...libraries are FUN!
In the 21st century, when a library is built or renovated people expect them to meet these new criteria. Gone are the intricate columns, flights of marble steps, acres of precious wood and dark interiors. In their place we welcome new spaces like the Roseville Library, located outside Minneapolis/St. Paul in Minnesota.
To say that Roseville, MN is a commercial hub is an understatement. If you need to buy something (anything) you can find it in Roseville. It is a thriving city with a population of 33,000 and, after shopping, the resident love to go to the library. In the last twenty years, library circulation increased by 70% and by 2007 there were 234 people stopping by the library every hour it was open. It is the busiest library in Minnesota. The county approved a $15.6 million budget, the library received $780,000 in grants and a major renovation began.
Instead of starting over, or tacking on, Roseville went up and added a story. They were able to reuse 75% of the original building to create what looks like a totally new, fresh, modern library. They even reused the original roof as the new second story floor! Check out their photo gallery and if you don’t get excited than check your pulse. It is the first LEED building in Ramsey County (see my post for more about what this means) and, like the other green libraries I’ve seen, has a young, fun vibe.
So what else did they reuse in Roseville? For starters they used the sun to light up the interior and rain to water the garden. They resurfaced an old fireplace from the original library, purchased garden benches made from recycled from milk jugs and chairs made of recycled yogurt containers. They were even able to recycle 97% of the construction waste so it could be reused!
Our paradigm for re-using is changing as well.
Just like the library we are reconsidering what should be thrown out and what can be recycled or reused.
Rapidly filling landfills are a powerful and frightening change agent.
In the last few decades we have learned that recycling is good but reusing is better. If you can give an item a second life then you save the time, energy and fuel needed to recycle it. How can you adapt to this new paradigm? There are many little ways to get the job done.
How can you reuse
- water: put a rain barrel in your yard to water the garden or houseplants.
- clothes: give or use hand me downs, donate to salvation army, have yard sales or save for rags.
- food packaging: reuse the plastic wrap or bags from vegetables, margarine tubs for leftovers and bread loaf wrappers for lunchbags.
- newspaper: use as gift wrap or weedblocker in the garden.
- books: give to the library, school or senior center.
- food scraps: start a compost heap in your yard.
- gift bags and wrapping paper: unwrap carefully and use them for your next gift.
- furniture: try spiffing pieces up with paint, or recover an old sofa.
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