Green Action Fund Project Proposal
Staple Free Stapler at Hale Library
Project Proposer: Briana Carrillo
Project Supervisor: Gerry Snyder
Library Staff Supporter: Asha Muthukrishnan
Collaborating Student Group: Students for Environmental Action
Introduction
Many new technologies can allow us to accomplish the goals we desire with fewer
resources and demand on the environment. There are stapler technologies allow us to bind
papers together without using valuable metals for the small bind to hold pages together. By
purchasing these for libraries at KSU, the university will save money on staples and the waste
stream will be easier to recycle. These staple-free staplers make folds and slits to bind small
number of pages (up to 8) together with no metal staple. These devices can help make it
easier for library staff to clean the floors and expose students to new ideas and technologies.
Project Description
We will purchase staple-free staplers for use at Hale, Fiedler, and all libraries on
campus that support project. This will reduce costs for KSU and expose students to great new
technologies. The library environment will be cleaner and easier to maintain by library staff.
Asha from Fiedler Engineering Library staff expressed strong support for the project.
She said that this is a very good idea that could potentially help solve issues they are having
with the little metal staples. Students often remove staples from their papers, and then the
metal staples fall on the ground around the workstation in Fiedler. The staples are nearly
impossible to pick up by hand or by vacuum cleaner, according to Asha, and take up her
worker’s time that could be better spent helping students with library needs.
Sustainability and Environmental Benefits to Kansas State University
Less money and resources will have to be put towards the production and consumption
of staples. Students will gain more exposure to novel ideas to reduce our environmental
impact. KSU will provide more opportunities to students to reduce their consumption.
Workers at the libraries will not have to spend as much of their time picking up staples
off the ground and can instead use this time to assist KSU community with library needs.
Student Involvement in Project Implementation
Students will be able to use the new more environmentally friendly staplers at Hale
Library and other libraries on campus. The project will increase student awareness of these
green technologies and simple ideas to reduce consumption.
Briana and Students for
Environmental Action will work with library staff to get feedback about students usage of
staplers and whether the library floors get less littered with staples. We will create a
summary report that gathers more recommendations from library staff, students, and
community members about other simple technologies that can help libraries operate more
efficiently and sustainably.
Benefits to Kansas State Student Body
This project will reduce amount of tuition money that goes to staples. Future
generations of KSU students will be thankful that we saved more resources for them and got
more sustainable options available at our libraries for binding few sheets of paper.
The library staff will be able to focus on helping the student body instead of cleaning
up staples. Student knowledge about sustainable technologies will increase, and this simple
device will contribute to many conversations about resource consumption. Students will be
able to unbind their papers without producing waste.
Project Administration and Budget
The version that we have selected for the pilot project is:
Kokuyo Harinacs Japanese
Stapleless Stapler
http://www.amazon.com/Kokuyo-Harinacs-Japanese-StaplelessStapler/dp/B004X4K252/ref=sr_1_2?s=officeproducts&ie=UTF8&qid=1422742804&sr=1-2&keywords=staple+free+stapler
There are 5 different colors available (Black, White, Blue, Green, Pink).
These staplers can bind up to 8 sheets of paper together by making small folds and slits
instead of requiring the constant purchasing and consumption of metal staples.
The price of the black version online is $12.63. There is free shipping on orders over 35$. We
would like to purchase 10 of these staplers for the pilot project to see how successful they
are with students and staff. Briana work with with the staff to find the color stapler they
want.
The total cost will be $12.63 * 10 = $126.30
Funds Requested: $126.30
Project Timeline
We will purchase the staplers online as soon as we receive approval for project. Gerry
Snyder is faculty advisor for Students for Environmental Action and will ensure that the funds
get spent on the staplers. Briana will work with SEA and library staff to put staplers in
appropriate locations and gather information / opinions about staplers including
recommendation for future.
By the end of May 2015, we will have written a report
summarizing the project, estimating the savings, and making recommendations for the future.