Editor’s note: Since publication of this piece, the Free Book “Corner” has significantly expanded. As of January 2025, more than 30,000 books have been placed on the shelves—any book on the shelves in the Reading Room can be taken. Members of the UChicago community are encouraged to donate books on the carts near the entrance as well.
The Harper Library Working Group, a small focus group within the Phoenix Sustainability Initiative (PSI), seeks to address two key issues: reducing waste and helping students gain access to educational materials at the University of Chicago. This dedicated initiative consists of students who are passionate about sustainability and the availability of both academic and non-academic books on campus.
Last spring, following a conversation with Dean Hale about the aim to get free books on the shelves of Harper Memorial Library, the group took a significant step towards achieving their mission by launching a campus-wide collection project. Donations were collected from the UChicago Library, professors and students, and continue to be accepted on two shelves that can be found on either side of the entrance to the Main Reading Room in the Arley D. Cathey Learning Center.
Anyone is welcome to donate and take books from the corner as they wish. The books are organized into categories, separating course related and non-course related material. Whether a student is looking for a textbook for a specific course or something to read in their free time, the Harper Free Student Book Corner makes those resources readily available.
“Our goal is to establish a relatively self-sustaining system where students can both donate and take books as they wish,” said third-year Seri Welsh, creator of the working group. “This will ensure that books are freely available and easily shared among the campus community.”
The book-sharing initiative aligns with PSI’s broader mission, which is to encourage sustainable practices, both on and off campus. They are dedicated to creating a culture of environmental responsibility by encouraging students, faculty, and staff members to incorporate sustainability into their personal and academic endeavors.
Students add donated books to the shelves in the Arley D. Cathey Learning Center.
(Photo provided by the Phoenix Sustainability Initiative)
While starting with a small corner, there are other donation efforts in progress that aim to reinstall shelves in the Reading Room that have been removed over the years. The goal is to increase the number of books available in the near future, filling even more shelves around the perimeter of the room by the beginning of winter quarter.
“By repurposing books from the Harper Basement and creating a self-sustaining, community-driven system, the project promotes sustainability and resource sharing,” said Welsh.
While encouraging students to donate and reuse books, the Harper Library Working Group is demonstrating how small, everyday actions can have an environmental impact. This project exemplifies the fact that sustainability is about more than reducing waste—it’s about collaboration, creativity, and mindfulness. The book corner is a representation of how campus life can simultaneously be eco-friendly and community-driven.
“Sustainability on campus is about more than just recycling or reducing energy use,” said Welsh. “It's about finding creative ways to reuse materials and foster a sense of community responsibility. This project allows students to contribute to a sustainable cycle, where books are continuously shared and re-circulated. It also promotes the idea that students don’t always need to buy new books, helping reduce consumption and encouraging resourcefulness.”
