UVSP Lending Library

What is the UVSP Lending Library?

The UVic Sustainability Project’s Lending Library is located in our office in Room B020 in the SUB basement. The library hosts a growing collection of books and items, donated, purchased second-hand, and curated by our community. The Lending Library is designed to promote education and imagination on sustainable topics, while supporting our community in developing sustainable skills, exploring everyday and embodied practices of sustainability, and organizing events and actions that contribute to a more sustainable campus community.

DROP-IN HOURS

Our current drop-in hours are:

Mondays, between 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Tuesdays: 12:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Thursdays, 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Fridays: 1:00 PM to 12:00 PM

Some hours and/or days are prone to change if staff are out of the office. Keep an eye on our Instagram if there are any changes!

If you want to make an appointment or have any questions, please email our communications officer at [email protected] .

What can I borrow?

The Lending Library offers a wide range of tools and equipment to suit various hobbies and sustainable activities. There is equipment for food processing, sewing, and more! A full inventory will be added online soon, but if you have any inquiries please feel free to email our Communications officer at [email protected] .

Books
- Find all kinds of environmental reads—critical, fiction, and lyrical—as well as field narratives, field guides, and ID books!
Textile and Crafting tools!
- We’ve got all your mending & making resources, including a sewing machine sewing kit, and resources to teach you mending skills!
Food Processing Equipment!
- Looking for food processing guides and sustainable cookbooks or a canning kit? We’ve got them here for you to borrow!
Outdoor Recreation
- Our library is home to a grab-and-go backpacking kit, as well as binoculars, hand lenses, and more!

Have any suggestions for items, or would like to donate a tool/equipment/book that aligns with our library goals? We'd love to hear from you! Feel free to email our Communications officer at [email protected] .

Inventory

We have an assortment of books and tools!

BOOKS

Title	Author	Genre
50 Keystone Fauna Species of Coastal British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest	Collin Varner	Outdoors, Non-Fiction, Animals, Plants, Nature, Reference
A Field Guide to Alpine Wild Flowers of the Rocky mountains	Halle Flygare	Outdoors, Non-Fiction, Animals, Plants, Nature, Reference
A Field Guide to Common Fishes of the Pacific Northwest	Andy Lamb et al.	Outdoors, Non-Fiction, Animals, Plants, Nature, Reference, Fish, Aquatic
A Field Guide to Edible Fruits and Berries of the Pacific Northwest	Richard J Hebda	Outdoors, Non-Fiction, Plants, Nature, Reference
A Field Guide to Medicinal Wild Plants of Canada	Beverley Gray	Outdoors, Non-Fiction, Plants, Nature, Reference
A Field Guide to Seashells and Shellfish of the Pacific Northwest	Rick Harbo	Outdoors, Non-Fiction, Plants, Nature, Reference, Aquatic
A Field Guide to Seaweeds of the Pacific Northwest	Dr. Bridgette Clarkston	Outdoors, Non-Fiction, Nature, Reference, Aquatic, Algae
A Field Guide to the Identification of Pebbles	Eileen Vanderflier-Keller	Outdoors, Non-Fiction, Nature, Reference
All Our Relations	Tanya Talaga	Non-Fiction, Indigenous, History, Social Justice, Politics, Essays, Sociology
As Long as Grass Grows	Dina Gilio-Whitaker	Non-Fiction, Indigenous, History, Environment, Politics, Social Justice, Nature, Activism, Climate Change
As We Have Always Done	Leanne Betasamosake Simpson	Non-Fiction, Indigenous, History, Environment, Politics, Social Justice, Nature, Activism, Climate Change
Best Garden Plants for British Columbia	Marie-Ann Binnetty	Outdoors, Garden, Gardening, Plants, Nature, Non-Fiction
Big Lonely Doug	Harley Rustad	Nature, Politics, Environment, Activism, History, Non-Fiction, Economics
Biopiracy	Vandana Shiva	Non-Fiction, Politics, Feminism, Environment, Nature, Social Justice, Activism, Philosophy, History
Birds of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest	Richard Cannings et al.	Non-Fiction, Outdoors, Birds, Animals, Reference, Nature
Birds of British Columbia	David A. Hancock and David Sterlin	Non-Fiction, Outdoors, Birds, Animals, Reference, Nature
Boundary Layer	Kem Luthor	Non-Fiction, Nature, Plants, Fungi, Outdoors, Philosophy, Natural History, Ecology
Braiding Sweet Grass	Robin Wall Kimmerer	Non-Fiction, Indigenous, Traditional ecological knowledge, Indigenous philosophy, Plant ecology, Storytelling, Nature
Breaching the Peace	Sarah Cocks	Non-Fiction, Land Defence, Climate Change, Politics, History
Brilliant Green	Stefano Mancuso and Alessandra Viola	Non-Fiction, Plants, Ecology, History, Nature
Canada and the Third World: Overlapping History	Karen Dubinsky et al.	History, Politics, Non-Fiction
Climate Cover-Up	James Hoggan	Non-Fiction, Climate Change, Environment, Politics
Creative Mending	Hikaru Noguchi	Skills, Mending, Crafts, Non-Fiction, Upcycle, Art
Crocheting and Knitting	N/A	Skills, Crochet, Knitting, Crafts, Non-Fiction, Art
Digital SLR; From Click to Print	Will Chung	Photography, Non-Fiction, Skills, Art
Doodle Stitching: Embroidery Art	Aimee Ray	Embroidery, Non-Fiction, Art, Skills, Crafts
Earth Repair	Leila Darwish	Nature, Non-Fiction, Restoration, Skills, Politics, Climate Change, Ecology, Outdoors
Edible and Medicinal plants of Canada	Andy MacKinnon et al.	Non-Fiction, Nature, Outdoors, Plants, Reference, Ecology
Embroidery: The Ideal Guide to Stitching, Whatever your Level or Expertise	Lucinda Ganderton	Non-Fiction, Skills, Embroidery, Art, Crafts, Reference
Engagement Organizing	Matt Price	Non-Fiction, Politics, Skills, Reference
Fermenting Made Simple	Emillie Parrish	Non-Fiction, Skills, Reference, Food
Financing our Foodshed	Carol Peppe Hewwet	Non-Fiction, Food, Storytelling, Politics, Economics
Finding the Mother Tree	Suzanne Simard	Non-Fiction, Ecology, Nature, Outdoors, Plants
Gardening month by month in British Columbia	Alison Beck	Non-Fiction, Outdoors, Plants, Gardening, Skills, Reference
Gardening with Native plants of the Pacific Northwest	Arthur R Kruckeberg	Non-Fiction, Outdoors, Plants, Gardening, Skills, Reference
Getting to Maybe	Frances Westley et al.	Business, Self-Improvement & Inspiration, Wellness, Non-Fiction, Politics
Guide to Americas Outdoors; Pacific Northwest	Bob Davine	Outdoors, Nature, Non-Fiction, Hiking, Reference, Travel
Guide to common Mushroom of British Columbia	R. J. Bandoni and A.F. Szczawinski	Outdoors, Reference, Fungi, Ecology, Non-Fiction
Heating the Outdoors	Marie-Andrée Gill	Indigenous, Poetry
Held by the Land	Leigh Joseph	Indigenous, Reference, Ecology, Wellness, Plants, Medicine
Hiking the Ancient Forests of British Columbia and Washington	Randy Stoltmann	Outdoors, Reference, Natural History, Plants, Ecologies, Hiking, Travel, Non-Fiction
Indigenous Writes: A Guide to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit issues in Canada	Chelsea Vowel	Indigenous, History, Non-Fiction, Law, Politics
Luschiim’s Plants: Traditional Indigenous Foods, Materials and Medicines	Dr. Luschim Arvid Charlie and Nancy J Turner	Indigenous, Plants, Medicine, Ecologies, Botany, Reference, Outdoors
Make, Thrift, Mend	Katrina Rodabaugh	Crafting, Mending, Art, Non-Fiction, Reference, Upcycling
Marine Biology, 11th Edition.	Peter Castro and Michael E. Huber	Non-Fiction, Marine, Ecologies, Biology, Outdoors, Nature, Textbook
Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest	Andy Lamb and Bernard P Hanby	Marine, Non-Fiction, Reference, Nature, Outdoors, Animals, Plants, Ecology
Marine Mammals of British Columbia	John J B Ford	Animals, Marine, Non-Fiction, Reference, Nature, Outdoors, Ecology
Modern Folk Embroidery	Nancy Nicholson	Art, Craft, Embroidery, Non-Fiction, Reference
Mushroom Pocket Field guide	Howard E Biglow	Fungi, Non-Fiction, Reference, Ecology, Nature, Outdoors
National Audobon Society Field Guide to the Pacific Northwest	Peter Alden and Dennis Paulson	Birding, Reference, Animals, Outdoors, Nature, Non-Fiction
Nature and Psyche: Radical Environmentalism and the Politics of Subjectivity	David W. Kidner	Nature, Environment, Politics, Non-Fiction, Psychology, History, Philosophy
Nature BC: An Illustrated Guide to Common Plants and Animals	James Cavanaugh	Nature, Reference, Outdoors, Plants, Animals, Non-Fiction
No Logo	Naomi Klein	Non-Fiction, Politics, Economics, History
Northern Wild: Best Contemporary Canadian Nature Writing	David R. Boyd	Non-Fiction, Nature, Essays, Environment, Anthology
One Pot, Pan, Planet	Anna Jones	Food, Cookbook, Sustainability, Reference, Non-Fiction
Original Instructions; Indigenous Teachings for a Sustainable Future	Melissa K Nelson (editor)	Storytelling, Indigenous, Sustainability
Papercrafts	Angela A'Court et al.	Reference, Art, Craft, Non-Fiction
Perennials for British Columbia	Alison Beck	Outdoors, Garden, Non-Fiction, Plants, Reference
Plant Identification Terminology: an Illustrated Glossary	James G Harris and Melinda Wolfe Harris	Reference, Non-Fiction, Plant, Nature, Outdoors
Plant-Based Foodie: Vancouver	Brad Pale	Food, Cookbook, Reference, Non-Fiction, Sustainability
Plants of Coastal British Columbia	Jim Pojar and Andy MacKimmons	Plants, Non-Fiction, Outdoors, Reference, Nature
Plants of the Gulf and Sanwon Islands and Souther Vancouver Island	Collin Varner	Plants, Non-Fiction, Outdoors, Reference, Nature
Pocket Book of Crochet	Claire Gelder	Non-Fiction, Crochet, Crafts, Reference, Art
Pocket Book of Knitting	Claire Gelder	Knitting, Crafts, Reference, Art, Non-Fiction
Pressed Flower Workstation	N/A	Art, Reference, Workstation, Non-Fiction, Plants
Reinventing Prosperity	Graeme Maxton and Yorgan Randers	Non-Fiction, Politics, Economics, Climate Change
Saanich Ethnobotany	Nancy J Turner and Richard J Hebda	Non-Fiction, Nature, Outdoors, Ecologies, Ethnobotany, Ethnoecology, Indigenous, History, Reference
Sacred Economies: Money, Gift and Society in the Age of Transition	Charles Eiseinstein	Non-Fiction, Politics, Economics, Sustainability
Saving Water	Dr. Bruce Fraser et al.	Non-Fiction, Ecologies, Nature, History, Climate Change, Environment, Politics,
She Explores: Stories of Life-Changing Adventures on the Road and in the Wild	Gale Straub	Outdoors, Storytelling, Travel, Non-Fiction
Songhees	Songhees Nation	Indigenous, Storytelling
Spinning Tales, Weaving Hope: Stories, Storytelling, and Activities for Peace, Justice and the Environment	Ed Brody	Storytelling, Education, Environment, Sustainability
Stitched Whimsy	Heidi Boyd	Art, Craft, Non-Fiction, Reference
Stories from the Magic Canoe of Wa'xaid	Cecil Paul	Storytelling, Indigenous, Education, History
The Cloudspotters Guide	Gavin Pretor-Pinney	Non-Fiction, History, Natural History, Climate, Clouds
The Coastal Forager's Pocket guide	Chef Robin Kort	Food, Cookbook, Outdoors, Nature, Marine, Non-Fiction
The Conscious Closet	Elizabeth L Cline	Non-Fiction, Clothes, Sustainability, Reference
The Earth Speaks	Steve Van Matre and Bill Weiler	Poetry, Nature, Environment, Non-Fiction, Essays, Anthology
The Earth's Blanket	Nancy J Turner	Ethnoecology, Ethnobotany, Indigenous, History, Storytelling, Politics, Social Study, Ecologies, Conservation
The Great Neighbourhood Book	J Wall Jasper	Non-Fiction, Reference, Urban Planning, Urbanism, Sustainability
The Healing Heart ~ Communities	Allison Emcocks and David H Albert	Social Justice, Storytelling, Community, Politics
The Intentional Thread	Susan Brandels	Non-Fiction, Crafting, Skills, Art, Reference
The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns can Change to Sustainable Practices	Sarah James and Torbjorn Lahti	Non-Fiction, Sustainability, Urban planning, Community, Environment, Planning
The Sixth Extinction	Elizabeth Kolbert	Non-Fiction, Conservation, wildlife, epochs, anthropocene, geology, archaeology, biology, zoology, history of mass extinctions
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating	Elisabeth Tova Bailey	Non-Fiction, Memoir, Nature, Animals, Biology, Ecologies
The Story of Stuff: The Impact of Overconsumption on the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health-And How We Can Make It Better	Annie Leonard	Non-Fiction, Economics, Society, Environment, Sustainability, Politics, Health, Climate Change, Sociology
The Sustainability Revolution: Portrait of a Paradigm Shift	Andres R Edwards	Non-Fiction, Sustainability, Community, Economics, Society, Environments
The Waste Not, Want not Cookbook	Cinda Chavich	Non-Fiction, Cookbook, Sustainability, Food, Reference
This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate	Naomi Klein	Non-Fiction, Climate Change, Economics, Society, Environment
Tree Book: Learning to recognize trees of British Columbia	N/A	Non-Fiction, Trees, Reference, Nature
Trees to know in Oregon and Washington	Edward C Jenson	Non-Fiction, Reference, Field Guides, Nature, Ecologies
Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future	Elizabeth Kolbert	Environment, Climate Change, Technology, Travel, Sustainability
Vancouver Island BC	Backroad Map Books	Non-Fiction, Geography, Maps, Reference, Travel, Outside
Vegetable Gardening for British Columbia	Laura Peters	Non-Fiction, Garden, Food, Outside, Reference
Waste Not Everyday	Erin Rhodes	Non-fiction, Environment, Sustainability, Self Help
Water Wars	Vandava Shiva	Non-Fiction, Technology, Politics, Environment, Climate Change, History, Ecologies
Wear, Repair, Repurpose	Lily Fulop	Upcycle, Non-Fiction, Crafting, Mending, Reference

ITEMS

Item	Description	Genre
Darning Mushroom	Wooden Darning with a large surface area; for mending socks and such	Mending, upcycling
Darning Egg	Wooden Darning, with a smaller surface area: for mending socks and such	Mending, upcycling
Camping Pot Set	Includes small metal frying pan, large and small metal pots, and small pot lid	Outdoors, Camping, Cooking, Food, Kit
Sighting Compass	Suunto Mirrored Sighting Compass	Outdoors, travel
Loupe	3 Jeweler Loupes	Outdoors, travel, Nature
Tool Box	A variety of tools in a green box; Metal files, a hammer, red wire cutters and more!	Tools, Skills, Kit
Block Printing Kit	Includes a Baren, Brayer, Inking Plate, Lino cutters, and instructions	Art, Upcycling, Skills, Kit
Camp Stove	Small, portable, orange	Camping, Cooking, Outdoors
Shovel	3 feet long	Outside, Gardening, Restoration
First Aid Kit	Includes items like wound cleansing towelettes, bandages, splinter forceps, cpr mask, etc.	First Aid, Kit
Loppers	Red Yardworks bypass lopper, 1 3/8 inch cutting capacity	Restoration, Outdoors, Nature, Gardening
Tent	2 person tent	Camping, Outdoors
Walking Sticks	Pair of Hiking sticks, with tips for walking and hiking	Outdoors, Nature
2 Secateurs	One is the Mockins Brand, which has a small amount of rust on the blade, the other has a red handle.	Restoration, Gardening
2 Garden Trowels	Two Garden Trowels part of the garden tool collection, one of which has depth measurement	Gardening, Outdoors, Restoration, Nature
Garden Hand Rake	Part of our Garden Tool collection	Gardening, Outdoors, Restoration, Nature
Garden Hand Pitchfork	Part of our Garden Tool Collection	Gardening, Outdoors, Restoration, Nature
Garden Weeder	Part of our Garden Tool Collection	Gardening, Outdoors, Restoration, Nature
Garden Digging Gloves	Brown pair of gloves with black tips for digging	Gardening, Outdoors, Restoration, Nature
3 Binoculars	Three different binoculars	Birding, Outdoors, Nature
Card Deck: Held by the Land	By Leigh Joseph, includes Guidebook and 45 cards. The library also has the book to accompany the deck.	Indigenous, Plants, Nature, Outdoors
Card Deck: Pacific Northwest Plant Knowledge Cards	By VICCIFN, includes 65 plant knowledge cards	Indigenous, Plants, Nature, Outdoors
Megaphone	Included with a bag of batteries	Event
Flowerpress: Microwave Oven	Microwave oven Flower Clay Flower Press, includes instructions	Crafting, Outdoors, Nature, Plants
Sewing Machine	Includes Instructions, Black foot pedal and a bag of notions.	Crafting, mending, upcycling
Mending Kit	Comes in an adorable button-patterned basket. Includes fabric scraps, pins, safety pins, small embroidery loop, scissors, tape measure, buttons, and thread.	Crafting, Mending, Upcycling
Canning Kit	Includes Black enamel pot, canning jar rings, assorted canning jars, 2 wire racks, 1 funnel, 1 magnet for jar lids, 3 jar tongs and 1 red rubber matt	Food

How do I Borrow?

1. Sign up to become a Borrower.

To be able to borrow from the UVSP Lending Library, you must become a borrower. Once you are registered, you are free to borrow year round, until you would like to no longer be a borrower.

2. Visit the UVSP Office (SUB B020)

Come visit the Library in our office! Feel free to peruse during UVSP Lending Library operating times. Our current hours are Wednesdays between 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM or Thursdays at 11:30 PM to 2:30 PM.

3. Check out items to borrow.

Items in the Lending Library may be loaned for an initial period of up to two weeks and books may be loaned for an initial period of up to one month. The borrowing period for items and books are different in recognition of the different demands and needed time of use for the different items. Loans are permissible year-round, including over reading break, winter break, and the summer semester, though pick-up and drop-off of loans is restricted to UVSP hours of operation.

What if I want to extend something?
- The end date of the initial loan will be communicated to the borrower at the time the item is taken out from the library. Subsequent extensions of the loan may be requested in person or over email, but approval of alterations to the borrowing period is at the discretion of the UVSP. The primary factor which influences whether loans may be extended is current demand for the material on loan. When a loan is extended, the duration of the extension may not exceed the duration of the initial borrowing period. For example, a sewing machine borrowed for two weeks may have the borrowing period extended for up to an additional two weeks. Any extension of the borrowing period will not exceed the original length of the borrowing period. After a book or item is returned to the UVSP for a one week period, the most recent borrower may begin a new book or item loan if the book or item is available to borrow. The UVSP has implemented these borrowing guidelines to support fairness for our growing community of borrowers and for borrowers who require longer durations of time to complete projects.

4. Return your items to the library.

All materials are to be returned on time, cleaned (if applicable), and in equivalent condition to that of when they were borrowed. If items are not returned according to these guidelines, the UVSP will communicate with the borrower about these expectations not being met and may take additional actions circumstantially. These additional actions may include:

Requesting the borrower to re-clean an item.

A UVSP staff or Board member having a conversation with the borrower about the terms of the borrower agreement and consideration for other users of the Lending Library.

Having a UVSP staff or Board member review best-use practices for the use/storage of an item with the borrower.

In cases where inventory is severely damaged or unreturned, keeping the borrower’s $20 deposit in order to replace or repair a book or item. In these cases, a borrower’s membership will need to be reactivated by paying another $20 deposit.

The UVSP is committed to clear communication with borrowers around these issues, and equity and fairness towards borrowers who fail to return items on-time or return damaged items, as well as the community that uses our Lending Library.

How do I become a Borrower?

Eligibility

Any UVic current student, faculty, staff, or any person able to demonstrate another concrete connection to the UVic community may become a borrower with the UVic Sustainability Project (UVSP) Lending Library. The extent of our current eligible membership base has been decided to support access to sustainable opportunities for learning, connection, and skill-building for all members of our community, while also recognizing the limitations of what our group is currently able to offer through the Lending Library and the specific needs of the UVSS members whose student fees support this program.

A non-exhaustive list of non-student, non-staff, and non-faculty connections to the campus community includes:

Associate Members of the UVSP
UVic Alumni.
Neighbours to the UVic campus.
Individuals from local, UVSP-aligned, organizing and non-profit organizations that serve students.
Family members of current students, faculty, or staff.

The UVSP will happily consider other campus-connections put forward by prospective borrowers as well.

Membership

Any UVic student, faculty, staff, or any person able to demonstrate another concrete connection to the UVic community may opt to become a borrower with the UVSP’s Lending Library.
The only requirements to attain membership are:

1. To agree to the UVSP’s Lending Library Borrower Agreement and sign a liability waiver.
2. Pay a $20 refundable deposit to the UVSP. This deposit will only be kept in instances where a borrower severely damages, or fails to return, books or items borrowed from the UVSP’s Lending Library. The deposit may be paid by cash, credit card, or a cheque made out to “University of Victoria Students’ Society” with “UVSP Lending Library membership” written in the memo line.

At any time an individual decides they no longer wish to borrow from the Lending Library, they may email the UVSP to request the return of their deposit, which will be returned to them by cheque. To receive a cheque, you must provide the name used on your bank account and inform UVSP whether you will pick up your cheque in the SUB general office or if you would like it mailed to you (mailed cheques require submission of your mailing address). Regular deposit refunds will be issued within two weeks of UVSP staff receiving a request for a refund. If, for any reason, a refund cannot be issued within two weeks of UVSP staff receiving the request, UVSP staff will communicate with the person issuing the refund request with an updated timeline.

Borrowers Agreement

Any member of UVic Sustainability Project (UVSP) Lending Library may borrow from the Lending Library with the following provisions regarding the current inventory of the Lending Library and all inventory acquired heretofore:

Each borrower is responsible for the care, protection, use, and safe return of any items borrowed.
Each borrower assumes and shall bear the risk of loss, damage to, theft or destruction of all loaned materials, and the potential resulting retention of a deposit, additional material-related training, or sanctions. However, in these circumstances, the UVSP will approach resolution, repair, and replacement in these circumstances with fairness as our highest priority.
The materials are loaned to the borrower with no warranties, express or implied, including any warranty of fitness for a particular purpose.
The borrower may not transfer in any manner the property or the borrower’s obligations under this loan agreement. However, others may use materials from the Lending Library alongside the borrower, as long as the borrower is present and assumes the resulting liability.
All components of loaned inventory items are what is expected to be returned to the library once a loan has concluded.
Respectful treatment of the UVSP staff and volunteers who run the UVSP’s Lending Library is expected of borrowers. Harassment of and discrimination against our staff and volunteers will not be tolerated.