Hey bookworms, this one’s for you! Today’s small step is to take a page (sorry) from avid readers like Jo March, Hermione Granger, and Rory Gilmore:
Get a library card, and use it!
That’s because libraries are amazing hubs for knowledge, discovery, and finding back issues of Vogue from the ‘90s—and they’re also key resources for protecting the planet. Through their loan programs and archival systems, libraries reduce our carbon footprint by recirculating books, albums, and films instead of trashing them. They also provide communal centers for air conditioning in the summer, which helps us save energy and cash on our utility bills.
And how fun is borrowing a juicy beach read (our current pick: Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld) you don’t have to find room for on your shelves?
Libraries are magic, but they’re currently experiencing budget cuts (and even harassment from mobilized internet trolls). Getting and using your library card shows city officials that these community resources matter. It also helps you save money and reduce your environmental impact, because you’ll be sharing books instead of buying new ones.
Want extra credit? Ask your library if they take donations, and help your old favorites get a guaranteed home. After all, you don’t want to be the only one on your block raving about Enchantment…
