New Hampshire Libraries Promote Recycling! Your Help is Needed! New Hampshire libraries are being asked to help disperse information to their communities about America Recycles Day in New Hampshire (ARD-NH) which takes place on November 15, 1998. You can do as little or as much as you want, from providing Internet access for on-line pledging, or setting up posters and tear off pledge sheets, to working with your local recycling committee or program to set up a recycling related display.

Last year, on November 15, New Hampshire, along with 40 other states, made environmental history by celebrating the first national America Recycles Day. The effort, a public-private partnership to encourage recycling and the buying of recycled content products, was a resounding success with a proclamation signing by the Honorable Governor Shaheen and the submission of 750,000 pledges to recycle to win the American Green Dream House national prize - a home valued at $200,000 made primarily from recycled content materials. This national contest and associated events provided a great incentive for Americans to increase their recycling or buying recycled efforts.

After having a successful first year kick-off, the planning has already begun for America Recycles Day in New Hampshire, 1998. In addition to last year's activities such as press, promotions, pledges, and prizes, including the American Green Dream House, this year promises more resources, local sponsors, prizes, and statewide planning with a new slogan; "If You're Not Buying Recycled, You're Not Really Recycling." In addition, New Hampshire libraries will be instrumental in promoting the "3 R's", "reduce, re-use, and recycle," by joining New Hampshire's goal to be the state with the most on-line pledges to recycle or buy-recycled (we were in the top 5 last year). By providing Internet access wherever possible, New Hampshire libraries will enable residents to reduce paper usage and in turn save precious resources.

Keep an eye out for your Library Assistance Kit for ARD-NH to arrive at your library on the state van in September. Resources in this kit will include: America Recycles Day posters, tear-off pledge cards, lists of New Hampshire communities and their recycling contacts, recycling related reading lists and web-site suggestions, lists of hand outs that libraries can get for free, and suggestions for organizing ARD-NH events.

We look forward to celebrating this exciting event with a new partnership between New Hampshire libraries and New Hampshire recycling. For more information or questions, please contact Barbara McMillan, Recycling Coordinator, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, (603) 271-3712.