A new resource takes root Wednesday at UNC Libraries: a seed library. The university is holding a launch party in the Murray-Venable Courtyard outside the Kenan Science Library from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

A seed library is similar to a regular library. Instead of checking out books, seed packets are checked out instead.

“Since it wouldn’t be possible to return those exact seeds like you would a book,” said Jordan Green, “Patrons instead return or donate borrowed seeds by saving and donating some from the plants that they’ve grown from their initial blended sample of seeds.”

Jordan Green is a Carolina Academic Library Associate in the Kenan Science Library Makerspace. Green is the one who brought the idea of a seed library to UNC Libraries. She said the Kenan Science Seed Library is separate from the Edible Campus Garden on UNC’s campus.

“I think the seed library fits really well,” Green said. “Between some of the UNC and the Chapel hill, Carrboro area existing resources and initiatives like Edible Campus, the botanical gardens, the Community garden, [and] the farmers markets around town, I think there’s a lot of seed and growing gardening adjacent things. We didn’t have a seed library here in Chapel hill yet to my knowledge.”

Green said the seed library will have about 35 varieties of plants with more to be added in the future. The Kenan Science collection focuses on vegetable plants, ornamental plants and herbs native to the region.

The seed library resource is open to the public with an informal checkout process – writing on a sheet of paper which seeds and the date they are checked out.

The seeds are housed in a retired card catalog. The cabinet previously was home to the library referencing system before that system was digitalized.

Kenan Science Seed Library (University Libraries/UNC-Chapel Hill)

“I hope that the seed library will serve as a resource for students,” Green said. “For information about botany and growing gardening and also the physical resources to help them get started with that and I hope it’ll help introduce the students to the science library and all the great resources that the UNC libraries have to offer.”

Other UNC Libraries activity include expanding free access to the New York Times for faculty, staff and students as well as an exhibition entitled “A Place at The Table: The Influence of Black Cuisine.”

 

Featured Photo by University Libraries/UNC-Chapel Hill

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