Everybody Reads - and Promotes Sustainable Practices

Entry #15 – March 13, 2011

Everybody Reads – and Promotes Sustainable Practices

This is my friend Scott Harris: caretaker, guardian, manager, and owner of Everybody Reads Bookstore in Lansing, Michigan. He has devoted over five years of his life to creating and nurturing a welcoming, community-based bookstore. The store offers reading materials for underrepresented topics and provides a gathering space for community groups. Books and magazines include topics related to sustainability, human rights, and diverse ways of thinking and living.   

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Additionally, Everybody Reads practices sustainability. It offers customers a way to buy books locally. Moreover, even folks who do not have cash can participate in a free book exchange. This book exchange allows people to save money, and books are reused instead of going into a landfill. The store offers Fair Trade goods from around the world, too.  

I recently received the following email from Scott: “We’re collecting canvas bags! If you have extra reusable canvas shopping bags, we'd be glad to take them off of your hands! With crummy weather upon us … and with a dislike of plastic and paper bags, we'd love to make certain that if we offer someone a bag, that we're not foot printing! When done with the bags, bring 'em back and we'll keep 'em circulating!” (See http://becauseeverybodyreads.com/)

I have been questioning the number of free canvas and synthetic material bags that I have accumulated from environmental events and professional meetings. They are a great idea, except that I have more than any one person or family can use. It’s time to take some of them to Everybody Reads. Maybe you or someone you know could do something similar? 

P.S.   If you can think of good practices for recirculation of goods, please share them through a comment on this blog. Just click on “Add comment” below.

Copyright© 2011 by Paulette L. Stenzel for text and photo.  

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