Kermit the Frog; Polyester, American, 1976-1980
(c) Victoria and Albert Museum
Remember when Kermit the Frog sang about how ‘It Aint Easy Being Green’? As much as I don’t like to prove my favourite Muppet wrong, that isn’t the case in the National Art Library.
It’s actually really easy!
Easy to spot
This week sees the introduction of a new Readers Card in the Library, updated to reflect the refreshed brand colours of the V&A. Instead of looking out for the old purple NAL card in your wallet, train your eyes to recognise our new vibrant green card! Existing cards that are still in date are, of course, still valid.
Easy to get
You can become a member of the Library by filling in a short form. You then pick up your card on your first visit the Library (remember your ID!), which is valid for 5 years. Our new Readers Card still gives you the same access to over a million library items on art and design (and beyond), a wide range of e-resources, and a beautiful reading room to sit and study in.
Easy on the planet
Our new card is not only green in terms of its colour – we’ve ditched the plastic and gone for a fully biodegradable fibre board card. The cards are sturdy and well-made, but also eco-friendly and sustainable. With proper care, they will last the lifetime of your library membership (but do please check your pockets before putting a wash on!).
This is a new venture for the Library so, as always, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Please do feel free to get in touch and let us know!
Dear Vicky Worsfield,
Urgent need:
Please increase art library opening times to 6pm and allow writers/students to use it every weekday and on Saturdays, more like the London Library. It would be far more useful for users & attract more visits to this beautiful and unique resource — it is open too infrequently and briefly for convenience. It deserves to be enjoyed and appreciated more as a workspace in the area for scholarship. Please make efforts to implement this much-needed improvement to access the library.
Thank you for your attention to this. I used to use it often but its restricted hours are a deterrent.
Very Sincerely, Mira Stout
The post really rings true—swapping plastic for biodegradable fiber board shows how even small changes mirror bigger shifts in how we live. It made me reconnect with the idea that our choices, though tiny, ripple outward. I once had to chat with https://first-progress.pissedconsumer.com/customer-service.html
about a card change and realized how mundane interactions can reflect bigger sustainability choices in our everyday routines. From what’s in our wallets to what’s in our homes, green living isn’t just an ideal—it’s a narrative we build one moment at a time.