The Randall Library at the University of North Carolina Wilmington is taking an innovative approach to being a valuable resource for students in the digital age. They recently introduced their “Learning commons“, a designated area in the library that encourages technology-based research and takes the “shhh” out of the traditional library setting.

When walking through the main entrance, it’s easy to identify the learning commons. The area is freshly painted with bright colors and modern cubicles that feature desktop or laptop stations. The room also has a help desk that is staffed 65 hours per week by reference librarians and staff who work in technical assistance.

Students are encouraged to come in groups, plug in their computers, iPods, or other tech devices, and learn about technology. While the entire 2nd floor of the Randall library is reserved for peace and quiet, study groups in the learning commons can talk freely without fear of a staff member shushing them. Students also like the space that the room provides so they can still have their privacy.

Before the makeover, the space was outdated but the new learning commons now boast more than 300 power outlets and 91 computers catering to the digital age that some libraries are having a tough time adjusting to. Students can also check out 50 PC laptops and 14 Mac laptops.

It is no coincidence that students are giving good feedback about the learning commons. The project began as a series of surveys asking students what they wanted and needed out of a library studying area. Listening has been the true key to success. The concept is ongoing too. Collaborating with the students will not stop as the feedback from the students will help evolve the learning commons in the future. The area is designed to change with technology and student’s needs.

It’s the release of one of the most successful movies in history, Avatar. Some industry analysts think this movie will push Blu-ray sales in the same fashion that The Matrix pushed DVD sales. You can imagine how quickly the Blu-ray version has been flying off of stores shelves since its April 20th release. As sales have been through the roof, a little controversy has surfaced regarding the Avatar Blu-ray release.

1. The Packaging: Part of Avatar’s focus has been on environmental awareness. Choosing its release on Earth Day (April 20) the creators hoped to drive the message further. Even the film’s director James Cameron has been on Capital Hill recently talking about how his movie is a “Call to action” to protect the planet. Many bloggers and writers are finding the irony of Avatar’s Blu-ray and DVD releases not featuring  eco-friendly packaging.

Further, there are two additional releases of the film scheduled on Blu-ray in the next year. One coming up during the holiday season that will be loaded with extras and  special features and a 3-D version slated for early 2011. Critics are citing the waste that these three different versions will produce.

2. Required firmware updates: Avatar is not playing in every Blu-ray player. Why? The player needs a firmware update. So don’t run back to the store for a disc exchange. It’s actually quite common. According to a Best Buy service rep, the Avatar Blu-ray version would not work in 70% of the in-store Blu-ray players before the update.

So how are consumers reacting? Well, many are annoyed. After all of the anticipation, consumers brought their new disc home to realize that it wasn’t as simple as popping it in and pressing play. Some Sony Vaio®  computer customers are experiencing the annoyance to a greater degree. Not only was the disc not playing, there was no update at the time so the customer had to wait it out. Sony released this statement back in April:

It has been discovered that the movie “AVATAR” in Blu-ray Disc™ format cannot be played on certain VAIO® computers. The issue is caused by an incompatibility between the WinDVD BD application by the Corel Corporation and the BD Plus encryption technology used on the AVATAR Blu-ray Disc™. We are actively working on a solution and apologize for any inconvenience. Please check back soon

A conversation on bitter cold would usually be directed to our northern friends and those of us that experience snow throughout the winter.  However, this winter that seems to incorporate the entire US.  With freezing spells hitting the usually balmy states of the south there’s no saying what this winter has in store.  That’s why people across the country should reap the benefits of lowering their thermostat’s just a little bit.

I realize this may seem like the opposite of what you want to do, but you can fight the cold by layering up, including investing in the increasingly popular Snuggie.

The following from Madison Gas and Electric provides a chart of the energy saved when you set your thermostat back.

It’s unlikely that you’ll be dropping your thermostat anywhere in the 11 to 13 degree range but it may be possible for you to drop it down 5 degrees.  Even 5 Degrees for a few hours throughout the day can start to make a different.  Every little bit helps.

For more information visit:

Madison Gas & Electric

For a multitude of different reasons there comes a time when it is necessary to get rid of some clothes.  Maybe your kids hit a growth spurt.  Maybe you hit a growth spurt; wanted or not. It’s possible your style has changed, or that you just feel overwhelmed by the lack of space.  Whatever the reason it’s important that your old clothes steer clear of the dumpsters.  Here are 5 things to do with the clothes you don’t want to wear.

1. Donate them- If the clothes are still in good condition donate them so they can be worn by someone else.

2. Make accessories- Use the fabric to make headbands, hair ribbons and belts.

3. Make a quilt- Many of the heavy fabrics, such as jean, are great for quilting.  Combining several different types of jean also creates a nice checkered pattern.

4.Make a Bag- Cut long, wide strips of fabric that you can fold in half and then sew the sides creating a great bag. You can also add a handle for convenient carrying.

5.Make things for your pet-  Old fabric can be sewn together for pillows and bedding that are perfect for pets.

For more information please visit:

Using Clothes

How do you feel about spending a relaxing afternoon on the deck, basking in the sun, taking in the scenery and kicking back… on a bunch of milk jugs?  This afternoon might have sounded like it was headed in the right direction until the milk jugs, but don’t be deterred.  By the Yard is an innovative, fellow Minnesota-based company whose outdoor furniture is made out of recycled milk and water jugs.  If you aren’t sold on their innovative materials you might be swayed by their comfort, variety and product guarantees.

Their furniture is no joke. By the Yard boasts a 35 year warranty for their outdoor furniture, guaranteeing that it will not crack, rot, or peel within that time.  It is also offered in a variety of colors and styles to ensure it meets your decor. Perhaps the best part about the color you choose is that it’ll stay that way.  Their website states;

It will not fade more than 3% over a 10 year period; a color change that is generally not noticeable to the human eye. The color runs throughout each piece and has a UV-inhibitor incorporated into the material to minimize the chance of any discoloration.

The following is a sampling of a few of these colors and styles.

Now that’s cool!

For more information please visit:

By the Yard

Living a more sustainable lifestyle doesn’t happen overnight.  It’s unlikely that you go to bed a fossil fuel hog and wake up the next day with your hybrid car and carrying reusable grocery bags. It’s a continual learning process.  It’s also about recognizing the impact of your daily habits and understanding what it takes to change them.  For example, take a magazine and consider it’s impact on the environment.  You probably think that if you recycle them you are doing your part. To some extent this is true but did you ever think about the resources used to make the original magazine?  Do you know if you subscribe to a magazine that is made out of recycled paper or not?  Many magazines are in fact made out of recycled paper which significantly cuts down on the amount of resources needed to print them.   One such magazine is the popular Everyday With Rachel Ray.  For a list of more magazines go to better magazine list.

You may think now that you’ve subscribed to a magazine printed on recycled paper (which you of course plan to recycle when you’re done reading) you’ve really done your part. However, even this can be improved upon for the die hard green goers.  I’d like to introduce you to the electronic magazine subscription.  Available through your computer and involved in the destruction of zero trees.  Described by Barnes and Noble as

“…delivered to the recipient’s email address. Scores of titles available. An Eco-Friendly gift because these subscriptions are paperless and are delivered electronically- not by mail carrier.”

It’s everything the environment ever wanted.

For more information visit:

Grist

Barnes and Noble

National Novel Writing Month (commonly called NaNoWriMo) is of huge importance for many writers, teachers, and librarians.  During this month,  contestants attempt to write 175 pages within the month of November – a one month span.   Hilarity ensues as people try to write as much as they can in a limited amount of time.

Social activities cease, and dinner gets put off for tomorrow.  Writing becomes an all-consuming passion as writers and readers, take on the challenge to write 65,000 words.

Although some people argue that writing quantity over quality doesn’t make for a successful novel, the contestants of NaNoWriMo will respectfully disagree.  Just the act of having a self-imposed deadline allows many gifted writers the courage to write the novel they’ve always dreamed of writing.

Good luck to all of the contestants.

Encyclopedia.com quotes Richard Hamilton as defining Pop art as “popular, transient, expendable, low-cost, mass-produced, young, witty, sexy, gimmicky, glamorous, and Big Business,” then follows the quote by saying that Pop Art was certainly a success on a material level, getting through to the public in a way that few modern movements do and attracting big-money collectors.

And it is still as popular and marketable today as it was in the years that it first came out.

Pop Art is art that gently pokes fun at mainstream culture, even while being at the heart of it.  A playful example is DKNY’s new perfume packaging.

Even today, Pop Art is still fun, bold, and cool.  All kinds of companies are using it to advertise themselves in a new way.  Check out these pop art inspired Mountain Dew designs!

Finally, Pop Art in packaging design is still an art form that makes sense.  Financially and artistically, Pop Art design pleases the eye and yet, still gives out that elusive ‘cool’ factor.

Radio-Frequency Identification, or RFID tags, are very helpful for automatic store checkout, simplifying warehousing, and preventing theft.  Some say RFID tags may even completely replace the barcode, which is most commonly used today.  They are able to store more information on minimal space and can be read quickly by readers.  Although RFID tags are very helpful for these purposes, The Blog of Packaging pointed out that RFID tags could interfere with recycling.

The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) performed a study that showed when melting waste glass, it could become less shatterproof or discolored if the recycled glass contains trace amounts of aluminum and silicon from RFID tags.

Something needs to be done to make RFID tags more eco-friendly, such as making them metal-free, easily removable, or stuck to the bottle labels instead of the glass.  Otherwise many losses will be seen from not being able to recycle these materials, which would increase the input of extraneous materials needed.

If you’re like most people, you keep hearing about companies going green to both please customers and help the environment.  It can be overwhelming to try to manage your company’s green efforts if you don’t have much experience, but even small steps towards becoming more environmentally-friendly can help.  That is why it is important to set goals for yourself and your company that you can achieve.

I found some tips and goals to benchmark your environmental progress from the marketing magazine, Deliver, that can help your company in its start to become more eco-friendly:

Paper Procurement & Use

• Increase wood/paper purchases from recognized forest certification programs (by X percent by X year).
• Indicate use of suppliers affiliated with sustainable forestry practices that protect forest ecosystems and biodiversity as well as provide the wood and paper products our company needs.
• Increase purchase of environmentally preferable paper used for marketing pieces, product packaging, and/or internal consumption (by X percent by X year).