Members of the Student Art Alliance have joined with the James E. Walker Library’s administration to produce “Reduce,” a display of recycled paper strung above the first floor of the library on the MTSU campus.

From Nov. 8 through Dec. 5, participating students gathered paper that would have been wasted and created paper balls on string.

Organizers said the goal of the project was to alert students to the misuse of paper on campus. Library administration personnel said they wanted to do a similar display last year, but because of campus regulations, they were allowed only to display trash cans full of recycled paper.

“Students walked past the trash cans last year without getting the point, so this year we decided to involve the Student Art Alliance,” said Collection Assessment Librarian Suzanne Mangrum.

“We discovered that the more people who got involved on the project, the easier it was to do something more elaborate,” she added.

“Reduce” was created using as many recycled materials as possible. The display will come down before the university’s Christmas break on Dec. 22, but organizers said they hope it’s been a positive influence.

“I think we made an impact with all the people who saw it,” said Hannah Green, SAA secretary. “We are leaving it up through part of finals week so that more people can become aware of the need to cut down on wasting paper.

“Paper used in the library does go to the recycling bins, but the library has to pay for excess paper out of their own funds, which could go to buying more books and resources,” she noted.

For facts about on-campus paper waste or for photos of the display, click here.