Celebrate Earth Day All Month Long at DPPL

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 is the official date of Earth Day, but the Des Plaines Public Library has been celebrating all month long. In fact, we're trying hard to be green 365 days a year and we'd like to make it easier for you to go green, too. Need a little inspiration for being more green at the workplace or just in general? Watch our fun (and slightly crazy) video up above, featuring the Ellinwood Street Puppets! We may not be very good puppeteers but we're serious about taking care of the environment and we know that small efforts can eventually add up to big results.

You definitely want to stop by the library on Earth Day because the city of Des Plaines has a wonderful surprise in store for residents of DP. Stop by the library on Tuesday, April 22, from 9 AM to 9 PM, and every household will receive three CFL lightbulbs. CFLs (compact fluorescents) are tremendously energy efficient and last far longer than standard light bulbs. If you've seen these bulbs in the store, you know they can be pricey, yet the amount of energy saved by their use is significant, so this is truly a wonderful opportunity provided by Mayor Arredia and the city's Deep Green ad hoc committee.If you are a resident of Des Plaines, stop by the library (1501 Ellinwood Street) on Tuesday and pick up your bulbs. The library's Green Team will be waiting to greet you in the library's atrium and introduce you to some of our green resources as well. You may even see "Kermit," the star of our green video, if you time your visit just right...

Can't make it on Tuesday? We'll be distributing thousands of bulbs, so ask at any public service desk in the library during the rest of the week and we will get you your CFLs. Here's something else you can check out at any time, any where you have access to the Internet: our new "Going Green" guide. There's so much information on the Web and in the media about how to be more environmentally conscious, it can really be overwhelming. So members of the library's Green Team took the time to find some of the best, most practical resources and gathered them into a Web site for you. It's brand new and a good start, but trust us - the list will keep growing as we find more useful online sources to bring you. Check it out and tell us what you think. Consider this a sneak preview, too - you're seeing the Green Guide as it appears on our current Web site, but very soon you'll be seeing it in a completely redesigned, totally new DPPL Web site. We can't wait for you to see it!

We've been telling you all about our "Do The Dewey" fundraiser coming up next Saturday, April 26, from 7-10 p.m. but green-minded families will also want to keep in mind another program happening the library that day, a visit from Ricky Recycle followed by a free session on making crafts with recycled materials. Kids of all ages are welcome, just drop in! Ricky starts his show at 1 p.m. on April 26, and the crafts program goes from 2-4 p.m.

We're very fortunate in Des Plaines - we're a city surrounded by beautiful forest preserves and a winding river, fresh green parks and gardens. Let's take care of our city and take care of the world by learning to be more green. Happy Earth Day, Des Plaines! Stop by and meet our Green Team on Tuesday and get your free light bulbs.