Big Picture

Any true bibliophile will tell you that there’s nothing quite like stepping into a bookstore. Amazon might be more convenient and these newfangled electronic readers might save more trees, but spending afternoons nursing literary fantasies among bookshelves is (for some of us, anyway) an irreplaceable experience.
Like any other experience, bookstore-hopping can be made greener, oftentimes in ways you would’ve never thought.

Factoids n' Stuff

• Bookstore sales in the first four months of 2008 totaled $5.4 billion
• Only 5% of the paper used in books is recycled (source)
• E-books accounted for $67 million in sales in 2007

What Goes In?

Books, books, books…who would’ve guessed? Not to mention magazines, newspapers, journals, and other strategically-placed miscellany. With that much printed material, you can be sure to find two other things in abundance: paper and ink. The exact kinds of paper and ink depend more on the publisher than the bookseller, but they are still concerns that bookstore owners and management can communicate with their suppliers about. And who their suppliers are also makes a big difference. Small, independent publishers? Environmentally-minded ones?

Used bookstores are in somewhat of a different situation, as they are essentially recycling (or upcycling, rather) a product that would have otherwise sat in a basement or been thrown out. Do they encourage used book donations by offering credit or cash in exchange?

What Comes Out?

Yet again, books. But aside from the books themselves, little things that the bookstores themselves do can alleviate (or exacerbate) problems should also be considered. Do they hand out bookmarks or magazine subscription offers at the counter on excess paper? They can also control the types of bags they use. Do they offer reusable bags to customers?

Surprisingly, the biggest waste product coming out of bookstores may be the books themselves: unsold paperbacks are usually “stripped” (have their covers removed) and then are simply discarded into a dumpster. Does your bookstore dispose of un-sellable books this way, or another way (donating them to a school or library, recycling them, etc.)

How's it Run?

Look around at the lighting the bookstore uses, and the bookshelves lining the walls. What kind of bulbs are used, and what kind of wood? Does the book store use recycled or antique furniture?

How are the shipments done? Do they ship special order books separately or combine them with other shipments? Where are they shipped from? What kind of vehicles and fuel are used? 

What are working conditions like in general? (Powell’s in Portland, Ore. is the only major book retailer whose employees have a union, and that was an uphill battle, apparently.) Most of all, do they offer used books alongside new ones?

What They Care About

How deep is their passion for books? Do the salespeople seem knowledgeable about books and eager to share recommendations? Does the owner make it a point to stock books from small presses, unknown authors and obscure genres?  (Keep in mind that if these books are available in the store, then they don't have to be specially ordered and shipped across the country.)  Book donations and book drives, children’s book readings, local author events, and other programs foster a sense of community.

What to Ask

• What happens to unsold books, particularly unsold paperbacks?  Are they put on clearance sale, donated, or sent back for pulping?
• What types of books and publications do you offer that other stores in the area don't? 
• Do you sell used books, and would you consider selling them if you don't?

What to Do

• Support bookstores that support local authors and small publishers.
• Ask yourself if the book you want is something you really need to own, or if it can be borrowed from a friend or found online.
• When possible, shop at used bookstores and utilize the local library.

Find Out More

• American Library Association's directory of book donation programs
• Books to Prisoners (This website is for the Washington State ones, but there are chapters all over)
• American Booksellers' Association
• Green Press Initiative