Cankerworm Banding Kit Checkout

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

In a program that built on a City/County initiative, Durham County Library partnered with the Sustainability Office’s Trees Across Durham initiative to provide tree banding kits to residents to aid in the population control of Cankerworms. In October 2014, the library provided a central location and an infrastructure that allowed residents to ‘checkout’ Cankerworm banding kits at no charge. Trees Across Durham supplied the library with kits that included burlap, plastic and a stapler to secure a ‘band’ to the trees. Residents used the kits, and then returned the stapler and any leftover supplies. Library staff would notify Trees Across Durham staff, who would then restock the kit. Then the library would check out the kit again. On the very first day of availability, residents visited the library asking for the kits. The demand for the kits was so great that over the duration of the program (from October 2014-January 2015) the original 7 kits grew to 15 available for checkout. There was never a period after the start date when there was not a waiting list. The program was even more successful than anticipated, with more than 82 checkouts. Each kit contained enough supplies to band at least two trees, and many patrons said they had been able to band three. Because of this collaboration, between 164 and 246 trees were banded. The program helped raise awareness about preserving trees, and the library served as a place where citizens could ask questions and pick up informational materials, as well. In the late fall and early winter, the library became one of the public sites where citizens could pick up free ‘goop’ for the last step of the banding process.