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Extend the Life of Your Books & Magazines


-- Quote of the Day -- 


"There is a temperate zone in the mind, between luxurious indolence and exacting work; and it is to this region, just between laziness and labor, that summer reading belongs."

 ~ Henry Ward Beecher


-- Books -- 

We have a chapter in our Trash Talk - It's Easy To Be Green book series on the topic of extending the life of books. Today I'd like to briefly talk about how you can contribute to a better society through your use of books. 

Trash Talk - It's Easy To Be Green, Vol. 1
Trash Talk - It's Easy To Be Green, Vol.2













Many of us have stacks of books we've read and weekends offer a great opportunity to go through them once more. As we go through them we can check to see if any need a spot of glue or clear packing tape to hold the covers together. We can also start organizing the shelves for genre of books, books according to author, etc. While doing this project we can look systematically over a period of time start making piles of books that we no longer wish to keep and those you consider your "favorites" - those that you just can't part with. Literacy groups are often thrilled to receive your used books, as are library fundraising events (i.e. book sales). If the books are of particular genres you might find a home for them in family center, business center, employment center, women's center or counseling office libraries. If the books pertain to your career, perhaps bringing them to work is an option. 

Alternatively you can take those stacks of used books to the reuse center, or to thrift stores that sell things to raise funds for various charities in your region. You might want to consider taking them to a used book store that offers exchange or discount programs. 

Another option - start a reading exchange with your friends and family. We did this for many years, although these days it is fairly limited - there was a time when there were a lot of people involved. What we did was have one person designated as the starting point (usually me) and people would drop off books and magazines they no longer wanted and after I read them I put them in boxes or bags and people could go through them when visiting, or I would drop them off to the next person who was the next link in the chain of people involved. Placing your used reading materials by the door in a box for your visitors is also an easy option. You might know families with different aged children and you can start exchanging books with them - you never know where that can lead... such as exchanging clothes or toys. 

Another option is to take your books and magazines to bus stations (i.e. Greyhound Bus stations), business waiting rooms, coffee shops, office coffee rooms, laundry facilities, etc. 

People receiving the books will read material that they may not have been exposed to normally, enlightening them to new ideas, skills and entertainment. People in your community save money because they are spending less on reading materials. You are able to participate in fundraising for various charitable causes in your community. The life of the book is extended because more people are sharing them. And you have less storage going on at home too, so your place looks less cluttered. 

I hope this inspires you to start your own campaign locally exchanging and sharing your old magazines and books. :)


   Find Dave and Lillian Brummet, excerpts from their books, their radio program, blog, and more at: http://brummet.ca * Support the Brummets by telling your friends, clicking those social networking buttons, or visiting the Brummet's Store - and help raise funds for charity as well!






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