Save the Planet, Borrow a Book -- Misha Herwin

I have just read The Overstory by Richard Powers a powerful novel that has left a deep impression on me. The book follows the lives of a number of very different characters, ranging from a Vietnam veteran to a successful business woman and their involvement in a guerrilla campaign to save ancient trees. 

Reading this book I learned so much about the forests of America and how the individual trees support and communicate with each other. On that level alone it seems wrong to think of cutting down them down, but far more importantly these trees are keeping our planet alive. An old, well established tree cleans our air and helps to prevent the global warming which threatens all our lives. Destroying vast swathes of forest for short term commercial gain is positively suicidal.

Re-foresting helps, but that man-made woodland has nowhere near the biodiversity of the ancient forests. So it seems to me vital that we not only preserve the forests we still have, but we also look carefully at how we use wood.

I know that many books and paper products now use re-cycled paper, which is great. There is also the option to read on Kindle, or any other electronic devise, but for those of us who love the smell and feel of “real” books there are other alternatives. First you can always by second hand, think of the shelves and shelves of books in charity shops. Then you can share. I do this a lot with my friends. If one of us has a book they particularly like, or find interesting we lend it out, which doubles the pleasure as not only have you read it yourself but you’ve shared the joy. Sometimes I give away books I’ve enjoyed away because I know that I won’t be reading that particular one again.

Some communities have also set up their own little free libraries. These are small spaces, some look like mailboxes, others use existing structures like old phone boxes, which are filled with donated books.  

And then there are the public libraries. Libraries are wonderful places where you can read any book you like for free, or if you have to order it, it will cost you a minimal amount. Because of the varied selection of books, if you browse you will come across writers you’ve not heard or, or books you’ve never read and unlike in a bookshop there is no risk to taking them home. After all, if you don’t like it, it’s cost you nothing.

Which of course leads to the question−what does the writer get out of this? His or her book is being read but there is no financial reward and even writers have to eat.

This is where having your book in a library in the UK comes in. Because if you are part of the Public Lending Rights scheme, every time your book is borrowed you earn. It might not be a lot, but a popular author can do well.

Libraries are a very good thing. But they are under threat. To keep them going we all need to use them more. After all, the books are free and you are helping to save the planet. What’s not to like?