I would not claim to be “green,” but I’m greener than I was, and I’m interested in learning about changes I can make to get greener. That’s one reason I love the new 5 Minutes for Going Green site. Each week I get information on small changes I should be and could be making to reduce my carbon footprint.
One area that I have mastered is taking my own canvas bags to the grocery store. In addition to the fact that they are reusable and not plastic, they hold more and they are sturdier than those plastic bags they go through by the hundreds (thousands?) at the grocery store.
I’ve recently expanded my use of these canvas bags. They are perfect for loading up items for a picnic at the park (which is more environmentally friendly than stopping at McDonald’s). I love to use them when I’m packing up stuff for a weekend away, and in addition to grocery shopping, I use my totes each week by taking them to the library.
I am the mother of two little bookworms, and of course I love to read too, so our trips to the library result in more than one book a piece. My four-year-old usually comes home with a Thomas DVD, a Thomas book or two, and maybe another book if I’ve been able to convince him to look beyond the foot of space devoted to the Reverend W. Auden’s collected works. My nine-year-old always gets at least three or four books and finishes them in time to return them the following week. Since I am up to my ears in review copies, I stay away from fiction at the library, but I often bring home a (heavy) cookbook or two.
My minusbags canvas tote works perfectly for this. It doesn’t have a store logo emblazoned on it, and it’s not that thin canvas that I’ve acquired for 99 cents.
It got me to thinking that using the library is a very green practice:
- Libraries use and reuse resources—one book purchased by the library will be enjoyed by many people, as opposed to buying my own copy of a book and reading it and then letting it take up space on my bookshelf.
- Using the library saves fuel—my library is much closer to me than any bookstore. Even if I shop online (which is honestly how I buy 95% of my books), those books I order are shrink-wrapped, packed and shipped across country resulting in used fuel.
- Using the library supports the community – even though I’m not technically consuming, staying local is good for the local economy.
Would you like to win one of two gorgeous minusbags totes? Leave a comment here telling me your favorite part of using the library. I’ll draw two winners on August 20 (The giveaway is now closed. Thanks for all your great comments about libraries).
Managing Editor Jennifer Donovan is a contributing editor at 5 Minutes for Mom. She has been blogging at Snapshot for over two years. You’ll almost always find her holding either a book, a fork, a child’s hand, her laptop, or some combination therein.
ONE favorite part about the library?!? There are so many wonderful parts about the library! Not spending money on buying books, checking out audio books for long car trips, my pre-school niece’s sounds of glee when the car approaches the library,interlibrary loan, requesting books online and the list could go on and on.
My favorite part about using the library is that my son has learned to love it as much as me!
I have discovered so many terrific authors that I would have never even found if not for the library. My library experience is a bit like a blog experience – I usually find them from a book of a book of a book (or a link of a link of a link).
My favorite part about our library is that they allow you to reserve books from other branches of the library system and have them sent to your home branch for free. With four little boys and being a very avid reader myself, we check out a minimum of 50 books per week. I would love bags for the boys to carry their own books in rather than carrying them all in a plastic milk crate and one canvas library bag. 🙂
I love that our library have so many activities for my kids to participate to in. They have a blast at the library.
I love everything about our library, and it’s only 2 miles away from our house. I really like the kids reading/playing area. After we pick out our books, my son plays with the blocks and toys and I get to read in peace. He knows that he has to be quiet, so it’s a nice little break for me. My son’s favorite thing about the library (aside from the books and blocks) is putting the books in the return chute.
laylarenee[at]cfl.rr.com
What’s not to love about unlimited books? There’s no way I could buy all the books we want to read, and that’s why libraries are so great!
Hi, A wonderful giveaway tote! Our family makes a once a week trip to our town’s library. They children’s area is fantastic. There are little chairs and a carpeted area with steps for seats. Our sons think it is big stuff to each have their own library card to check out their books! Thanks, Cindi
I like finding new unabridged Audio books in my library.
I like to listen to them when I walk.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I must admit that I have a tremendous fondness for libraries. Not only am I a bookworm, but I am also a school library media specialist – the newfangled term for a school librarian! All the previous mentioned reasons to love the library are wonderful. I would like to add that I love the library staff and volunteers. Libraries certainly support the practice of life-long learning. Librarians will help you with library technology, finding information on-line or in various other forms. Your current curiosity or “wondering about” is now theirs as well when you ask for help. They will help you find whatever you need in the way of information. I have always thought that if I went on “Millionaire”, my life line would be the smartest research desk librarian I could find!
What is not to love about the library. I love the catalog online so I can make out my TBR list before I even leave home. Also, I love that it is a destination my whole family enjoys. As a matter of fact, we’re headed there today.
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail(dot)com)
My daughter loves coming home with 10 books that are new, and different from anything she has at home. And she gets to play ont he computer while I pick out the books. 🙂
The books. It seems a bit too obvious, but I love browsing the shelves–be it kids, teens, or adult section–and finding books. Books that I’ve never heard of that look interesting. New authors. New books. New genres even. I like using the library because it gives me a chance to explore and experiment. I would never have the freedom to buy books that widely, but I can “take a chance” on new authors, new genres, etc. at the local library.
My favorite thing about the library is the risk-free aspect. I can choose a bunch of books and if I don’t like one, it didn’t cost me anything! Really, I just think the idea of a library is fantastic and such a great part of my family’s life. It teaches my kids responsibility too, as they learn to take care of and keep track of their books.
I like that I can check out books that I would enjoy reading but that I am not interested enough to buy. I like that I can always find something to read when I need a new book.
I love the programs out library has…especially the summer reading program and the kids story time. My kids LOVE that time to spend at the library and it has helped spur the love of books we started at home!
My favorite part of the library is the money I save using i. Ours offers museum passes, interlibrary loan and so many great summer programs. The libririans are also fantastic!~
My favorite part of the library is watching the looks on my childrens faces when they find a book that they really want. We homeschool so it is a great way to get alot of books on different this we are studing about. Each one of the children have there own library card and they get to check out there own books and I think it gives then a since of Pride and Responsability. We love the library!!!
We always seem to leave the library with a ton of books. We try to remember to bring our backpacks. I also prefer to use the canvas bags at the grocery store. I need to get better about remembering them though. 🙂
I love the quiet and just seeing all the books gives me such comfort
My favorite part of the library is the BOOKS. I love to read and the books are free.
My favorite new features at my library are the drive through window and the computerized waiting list for the most popular books and dvds. The Drive through allows me to get my books quickly, and the computer allows me to automate my book “wish” list. Thanks.
Well, I might be the tiniest bit biased about libraries, because I’m a librarian. 🙂 But I’m a patron too, and some of my favorite things are the audio books (both on cd, and downloadable!), and trying out new authors without shelling out a penny for them.
I like the library beacuse my son hets to play, pick his own books, meet new kids, he participates in story time, and there are lot of kid movies and cartoons to rent.
I love that the library is accessible to everyone and at a small yearly fee.
My favorite part of the library would be the movie section. It’s nice to be able to get a movie to watch without paying to rent it.
MY favorite part of the library is the part when they pull the older books from the shelf. A lot of the older writings are really good books.
reading without paying
reading for free
My favorite part of using the library is all the wonderful kids books. We love going to the library and reading about everything under the sun.
I just love wandering around and sometimes finding a book so good that I will obsessively hunt down everything that author ever wrote.
My favorite part about the library is variety. There is something for every member of the family and for every mood. Whether I want to read a good mystery or listen to the latest CD’s or just watch a movie. Our library has an online system so you can browse and reserve from home which is really convenient.
The extra large print books and the movies and movies and movies!
I love the fact that I don’t have to subscribe to magazines anymore. The library has all my favorite magazines and I can check them out and return them so I don’t have magazines piling up all over the house.
My public library has story hour for kids and my grandkids love it. They also have a reading program in the summer with prizes for all the kids.
I love The library because I love books. Especially craft books.
There are so many reasons that I love the library, one of the most important is that I have a very small house with no storage room so I don’t have to worry about what to do with all the books I read. Thank for the contest
love the groups, the resale shop, the new section but most of all th elook of the kids when they find a new book and sit and open it up right there and get into it and start another adventure and often learn thru those adventures (also another bonus- its cost effective- free rentals of books and dvds!)
My favorite part of using the library is discovering new authors!
my favorit part of using the library is that it allows me to read books that I coud never afford to buy. Also I believe that books can take you wherever your imagination dreams of.
I love the genealogy records. Its stepping back in to history.
Hi,
My favorite part of using the library is the audiobooks on tape and CD!! Because I am busy, I just don’t have time to read like I used to, and this way I can listen to them! Our little library has quite a nice selection!
Good for you for taking your own totebags to the grocery store, park, etc. I must try to be better!
Thanks for the great giveaway and good luck to you!
baileybobby6(at)hotmail(dot)com
My favorite thing about the library is rather out-of-date: card catalogs in wooden drawers. When I was a child, there was something thrilling and magical about those long, narrow drawers filled with cards containing the names of books.
I love being surrounded by books. ~lol~ 🙂
Every summer I sign my kids up for the various library groups that they have. This year their favorite was the guy who made balloon animals.
I love that it is free, of course!
I love everything about the library. Sharing with others and not charging money for it is great!