{"id":28003,"date":"2022-10-12T00:01:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-12T04:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/?p=28003"},"modified":"2025-04-08T16:14:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T20:14:49","slug":"the-art-of-being-a-trash-y-library-person","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/2022\/10\/the-art-of-being-a-trash-y-library-person\/","title":{"rendered":"The Art of Being a Trash-y Library Person"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I was a children&#8217;s librarian, I really loved trash. It was a vibe. Despite working for one of the wealthiest areas of my city, there was no funding for my programming. I did it all on my own, and I had to be frugal. I had to look at all my trash and find new purpose for it all, so that I didn&#8217;t have to spend too much of my hard-earned money on supplies. If you were to ask me now about it, I would insist that this was the wrong move. I shouldn&#8217;t have been spending my own money on this, but I had a zest for this and you couldn&#8217;t have stopped me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, there was a lot of positives for reusing all this trash, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recycling&#8211; save the planet<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kept the program accessible for patrons to recreate on their own<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Let kids use their imagination more, more curiosity and more possibility!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Saving money!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I recently went back to my old location, and I was speaking to the current staff about all the trash that was still at that location, and I want to share some of the best with you. Keep in mind that this stuff has lasted over 5 years and is still be used! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1902\" height=\"1280\" data-id=\"28006\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/wash-station.png\" alt=\"Wash station\" class=\"wp-image-28006\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/wash-station.png 1902w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/wash-station-300x202.png 300w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/wash-station-650x437.png 650w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/wash-station-768x517.png 768w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/wash-station-1536x1034.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/wash-station-743x500.png 743w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/wash-station-134x90.png 134w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1902px) 100vw, 1902px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dirt and water scrubbing station<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1386\" height=\"1808\" data-id=\"28007\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/flower-petals.png\" alt=\"Flower Petal bins\" class=\"wp-image-28007\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/flower-petals.png 1386w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/flower-petals-230x300.png 230w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/flower-petals-498x650.png 498w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/flower-petals-768x1002.png 768w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/flower-petals-1177x1536.png 1177w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/flower-petals-383x500.png 383w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/flower-petals-69x90.png 69w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1386px) 100vw, 1386px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Flower petal sensory bin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1932\" height=\"1766\" data-id=\"28008\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/store-boxes.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28008\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/store-boxes.png 1932w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/store-boxes-300x274.png 300w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/store-boxes-650x594.png 650w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/store-boxes-768x702.png 768w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/store-boxes-1536x1404.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/store-boxes-547x500.png 547w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/store-boxes-98x90.png 98w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1932px) 100vw, 1932px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pretend store with empty food containers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2464\" height=\"1462\" data-id=\"28010\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/print-ads.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28010\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/print-ads.png 2464w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/print-ads-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/print-ads-650x386.png 650w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/print-ads-768x456.png 768w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/print-ads-1536x911.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/print-ads-2048x1215.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/print-ads-843x500.png 843w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/print-ads-152x90.png 152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2464px) 100vw, 2464px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Print ads for pretend store<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1916\" height=\"1190\" data-id=\"28009\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/snow-bins.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28009\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/snow-bins.png 1916w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/snow-bins-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/snow-bins-650x404.png 650w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/snow-bins-768x477.png 768w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/snow-bins-1536x954.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/snow-bins-805x500.png 805w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/snow-bins-145x90.png 145w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1916px) 100vw, 1916px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Winter sensory bin with styrofoam pieces<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2470\" height=\"1624\" data-id=\"28012\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Screen-Shot-2022-10-11-at-10.48.04-PM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28012\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Screen-Shot-2022-10-11-at-10.48.04-PM.png 2470w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Screen-Shot-2022-10-11-at-10.48.04-PM-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Screen-Shot-2022-10-11-at-10.48.04-PM-650x427.png 650w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Screen-Shot-2022-10-11-at-10.48.04-PM-768x505.png 768w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Screen-Shot-2022-10-11-at-10.48.04-PM-1536x1010.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Screen-Shot-2022-10-11-at-10.48.04-PM-2048x1347.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Screen-Shot-2022-10-11-at-10.48.04-PM-760x500.png 760w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Screen-Shot-2022-10-11-at-10.48.04-PM-137x90.png 137w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2470px) 100vw, 2470px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bubble wrap jumping floor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1394\" height=\"1262\" data-id=\"28013\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/space-station.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28013\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/space-station.png 1394w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/space-station-300x272.png 300w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/space-station-650x588.png 650w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/space-station-768x695.png 768w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/space-station-552x500.png 552w, https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/space-station-99x90.png 99w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1394px) 100vw, 1394px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Space station keyboard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trash to look out for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mochi or macaron plastic trays\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Can be reused as ice molds or paint holders<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Yogurt cups\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Can be used for water cups for painting or digging tools<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ice cream containers with lids\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Can be storage for smaller pieces, or water cups<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Old sponges or brushes\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Can be used for dirt\/scrubbing stations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Foam hair rollers\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The foam piece can be used as a foam paint brush (by sticking a popsicle stick in it), the plastic pieces can be stencils<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Broken calculators\/ Keyboards\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Can be used as a number of play pieces like a cash register or space station<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Empty food boxes\/print ads\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Can be used as play objects for pretend store<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Packaging material like styrofoam pieces or bubble wrap\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Can be used for sensory bins and jumping sensory stations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nature\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Flowers, leaves, and twigs can be used for natural sensory bins<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What kind of trash do you reuse at your library? Share some answers below! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Images courtesy of the blogger.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When I was a children&#8217;s librarian, I really loved trash. It was a vibe. Despite working for one of the wealthiest areas of my city, there was no funding for my programming. I did it all on my own, and I had to be frugal. I had to look at all my trash and find new purpose for it all, so that I didn&#8217;t have to spend too much of my hard-earned money on supplies. If you were to ask me now about it, I would insist that this was the wrong move. I shouldn&#8217;t have been spending my own money on this, but I had a zest for this and you couldn&#8217;t have stopped me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":233,"featured_media":28008,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[1646,96,38,1607,1],"tags":[1180,2468,2467],"class_list":["post-28003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogger-amy-steinbauer","category-early-literacy","category-programming-ideas","category-programming-skills","category-uncategorized","tag-recycle","tag-sensory-bins","tag-trash"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28003","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/233"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28003"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28003\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}