Top 10 Reasons to Shop At Your Local Used Bookstore
1. Better for the Environment
When you buy used books from a bookstore you are essentially recycling the books and the paper used to make them. Since you are not buying new books that have been just recently made you are helping the environment by decreasing the demand for more paper to make these newly manufactured novels.
2. You Are Saving Money
Who doesn't want to buy good condition books at a bargain? If you look at the image below you can see all of the books I bought for only around 15 American dollars. If I had not bought these books secondhand I would have ended up paying $41.89. What a deal!
3. Supporting A Small Business
Many used bookstores are small family owned businesses that do not have the support of a larger chain bookstore company such as Books-A-Million or Barnes and Noble. When you shop at a smaller used bookstore you are giving the business owners the support they deserve!
4. The Books Are Already Broken In
I don't know about you, but I most certainly love the smell of old books. Another plus of shopping at a used bookstore is that your books already have that smell. They are also not as stiff as newly manufactured books and will be easier to hold and read.
5. You Can Find Unique Covers and Rare Editions
Wouldn't you love to be able to brag that you have a gorgeous rare edition of a book that no one can find? I know I sure would! Books have new cover designs coming out by the year, so it is possible to find unusual covers of books from decades ago! And who doesn't love an aesthetically pleasing book?
6. You Are Taking Part In A Shared History
When you pick up an older book at a used bookstore you never know what you could find inside. It could be notes from the person who read this before you, an old forgotten bookmark, or a note that someone left behind for you to find. You also never know who could have read the book you picked before you!
7. Donate Books for Credit
Several used bookstores have a system where they will give you credit to buy books when you donate your old ones to them. So you can clean out the old books cluttering your attic and get some new ones that you will enjoy. It's a win-win situation!
8. You Will Always Find Something New Each Time You Go
Because of the constant flow of donations that these bookstores receive their inventory is constantly changing. You could go several times a month and find something new each time!
9. Discover New Stories
Whenever you visit a large chain bookstore they will most likely only carry the "latest and best" new books. But when you visit a small locally owned used bookstore you could find your new favorite book written by a lesser known and underrated author.
10. Experience An Ever-Changing Atmosphere
In my opinion, there is nothing like walking through an older used bookstore. There is no other feeling or comfort like it. Each time you visit there will be new books and new arrangements of shelves for you to browse.
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