Lisalotte van der Tas ( Teamleader of the Learning Centre) and Lorna Jutton (Projectleader Student Involvement) work with the team to ensure that staff and students can find relevant information in the library as quickly as possible. They are also driving the issue of student welfare and sustainability. Together with students and staff, they have already accomplished several great projects within this theme. "We really enjoy experimenting."
"We actually do our job well if you don't notice us," Lorna begins. "we strive to create a pleasant study environment where everyone feels welcome and which contributes to relaxation. With that in mind, we are working on all kinds of projects here. We actually do that here from the same point of view as in our private lives: consciously looking at where there is room to encourage re-use. For years, the library has given a reusable cup to first-year students during Kick-In. We see students use these throughout their time at the university. We also have a water tap in the 'coffee corner,' which ensures that students don't have to buy a plastic water bottle from the soda machine next door."
Lisalotte adds: "But also consider, for example, the circular bookcase designed by a UT student. The cabinet was made from the wood of old bookcases and was put together by Noaberbouw, a local organization that employs people with a distance to the labor market. The planters were also made from those same bookcases, which were no longer needed when all the books were moved to the closed depot in the Vrijhof."
Examine everything, keep the good
When students come up with a good idea for improvement, consideration is given to starting a pilot. "This stems from a vision the library developed in 2017 together with all stakeholders (students, faculties and other services), based on research among users. For example, by renting furniture first, instead of buying it directly: 'furniture as a service.' After six months, we look at whether students are satisfied. Is it a success or not? By testing everything first, we don't buy unnecessary stuff."
"A great example is the special reading table downstairs. This is the old meeting table of the Executive Board. It doesn't fit in every office, but it fits perfectly in the reading room between the bookcases. Students enjoy studying at it immensely and before that, this area was hardly used," Lisalotte says enthusiastically."
And then: "We just asked students again which chairs they like, we do a lot of user research. Again, circularity and right to repair, in addition to natural seating comfort, are important aspects. With 500 study places and often over 2,000 visitors a day, there is always plenty of enthusiasm for testing. We find it important to involve the students in the experimentation."
Personal drive
The two women are not only concerned with sustainability at work: the theme is also becoming increasingly common in their personal lives. Lorna explains: "When I think back to my student days, I wasn't really concerned with the theme. Since a few years, the signs that there is a problem have been so clear that I started looking at my own lifestyle: what can I do myself? I love buying second-hand things, and also buy much less new clothes. Instead, I look on Vinted or at the thrift store."
Sustainability has played a role in Lisalotte's life for much longer: "I have been a vegetarian since I was eight years old. I got it from home: in fact, I remember very well that my mother was very active in saving energy from an environmental point of view. If I felt cold, she told me to put on an extra sweater," she laughs.
And then: "So my upbringing has contributed to the fact that I am very conscious of the issue, also in my personal life. I have consciously started to fly less and I am very busy making my house more sustainable. I really enjoy monitoring and seeing where the consumption is in order to then save."
Having a dialogue together
"There is a broader thought within UT about sustainability and a support base which is growing. These are things that make us happy. Chairs are repaired whenever possible by the internal service. We also recycle, for example, keyboards, hdmi cables, and headphones to lend to students so they don't have to purchase them themselves," Lorna said.
Lisalotte adds: "I sometimes attend a Sustainability Dialogue myself. What else is happening regarding sustainability at UT, what discussions are there and how can we get involved? This way I can nicely combine my personal interest with my role here at UT. It's great to engage with each other, inspire and achieve great things together."
"In the coming years, we hope to continue to make the library more sustainable together with the Green Hub and students and increase the inclusivity and diversity of this fine study environment!"
Sustainability at UT
Sustainability is an important priority area of Shaping2030, the University of Twente’s strategic plan. In addition to finding sustainable solutions for societal issues, the UT wants to set a good example of what it means to be a sustainable organisation. To reach this goal, the ambitions of Shaping2030 need to be put into practice. Many members of the UT community are hard at work translating the sustainability objectives into our work on campus – transforming the way we work, teach, learn, travel, build and more. In this series, we invite them to talk about what motivates them, what the role of sustainability is in their day-to-day work, and what they would like to achieve at our university.
Want to find out more about sustainability at UT? Please go to utwente.nl/sustainability.
Written by Stef Meilink
