courtesy stock.xchng, lusi

Recently at our new Salvation Army store, I stumbled across a brand new and what looks like a never read copy of “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle for a buck.   My copy is worn out with sideline notes and a bit waterlogged by being left out in the rain one day.  I guess the Universe is telling me something so here I go again to re-read.

This has nothing to do with our physical environment here on earth but rather our mental state and the process from shifting our consciousness from the egoic mind to a place where we can “breathe freely” and understand who we truly are .  If only we all could attain this state of awareness…what a positive impact it would have on our world.

And the same is true for our buying and daily living habits.  If only we all could attain a more conscious way of purchasing, using, disposing…what a difference that would make too.

So the next time you are in the market for a book, keep these options open before heading off to the big box book store.  It’s not that I don’t like new books – I love them actually. I also love spending time in my nearby B&N.  However if I can find a gently used version, especially for book club selections, I feel I’m doing my part to be a little more resourceful.

So here are a few ideas on where to go to find those literary gems.

Church/Civic Group Book Sales:  Aside from the used book store, these fundraisers can also be a literary treasure trove.  Make your list and hit it hard knowing your purchases are benefiting a worthy cause.

Local Library: Why buy when you can check out for free?  Many libraries allow you to go online and checkout, reserve or be placed on a waiting list.  My library also lets me select which branch I would like to pick up, making it that much easier.

Paperback Swap: A new twist on a book club, Paperback Swap, allows you to trade and exchange books for free.  List the books you’d like to swap with other club members and only pay the cost to ship to the club member requesting your book.  Search for your book, request and it will be sent to you at no additional cost.

BetterWorld Books:  With over two million new and used books in stock, BetterWorldBooks has salvaged over 29 million books from landfills, has funded over 6.5 million dollars for literacy and education, and donated over one million books to partner programs around the world.  Here you can sell or donate your old books or buy new or used with free shipping always.  From my own experience, customer service is top notch and shipping is fast.

Barnes & Noble: And to give credit where credit is due, B&N also has a used and out of print buying option from their group of Authorized Sellers.  This also includes buying and selling of textbooks too.  B&N college booksellers also pledge efforts of sustainability as well.

So whichever route you choose, remember to donate, swap or sell back when you’re done to keep the story going.

Jeanne Blaisdell

Jeanne Blaisdell publishes TheGreenSamaritan.com, her personal blog highlighting green living tips and information in order to help herself and others on their journey towards greater environmental awareness. She has also launched EcoAvenueLtd.com, an online shopping site featuring the latest deals and promotions from a collection of earth-friendly merchants. Jeanne lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with her husband Tom and two boys, Jack (10) and Ben (7). You can follow her @GreenSamaritan and @EcoAvenueltd.