As “going green” becomes a nationwide movement, Grand Rapids Public Libraries will do its part in progressing Michigan toward a better environment for Earth Week.

“Celebrate Earth Week at the Grand Rapids Public Library” is running a series of events that begin Saturday and continues through the rest of next week.

“The events center around being a good steward of the earth, using locally produced goods, reuse of gold items and more,” read a press release for the event.

Kristen Krueger-Corrado, marketing and communications manager of GRPL, said this is the third year for the program and the patrons “really enjoy the workshops and markets that we have each year.”

“The library has a ‘Green Team,’ a committee of staff members that bring forward ideas on how to make the library more environmentally friendly,” she said. “Out of this committee came the idea to offer our patrons programming that would highlight various environment-related topics and promote the materials that the library offers related to these topics.”

Starting with Earth Week movies, the program will lead through various venues that are all free to the public.

Owner of Commute Bike Shop, Daniel Koert, will give a “Bike Safety and Basic Repair” demonstration. Scott Beiben will present “Scientists are the New Rockstars” showing people how to make useful items of their clutter and junk in the new, do-it-yourself movement. Gerald “Butch” Cash takes on “Recycled Journals” to transform old journals into useful notebooks and a “Looks Better on You” clothing swap will allow people to exchange slightly used clothing.

There will also be farmers and artisan markets featuring more than 20 local vendors selling food, art, jewelry and more

Michigan Notable Books author, Jeff Alexander, will present his book “Pandora’s Locks: How the St. Lawrence Seaway and Ocean Freighters Ruined the Great Lakes” and will speak on how the lakes are endangered environmentally.

“My hope is that my book and speech will help people understand the magnitude of problems caused by zebra mussels and the 56 other invasive species that ocean freighters have imported to the Great Lakes,” he said.

Alexander wrote the book to show how the “engineering marvel” that is the seaway, infected the waters with a “biological plague” when the U.S. and Canadian governments put commerce ahead of “their duty to protect the Great Lakes from environmental insults.”

Through honoring Earth Week, GRPL hopes to enrich people lives and educate people to better the environment of the local community.

“We hope that people come to our programs to learn something or explore a new topic and hopefully have fun in the process,” Krueger-Corrado said. “We hope that people visit their local libraries and understand their value in their lives.”

All of the events that happen throughout the week are free and open to the public.

For event information and times visit http://www.grpl.org.

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