I’m a self proclaimed book addict; I have the ridiculously large collection to prove it.
Switching to a minimalist lifestyle led me to see this collection in a different light. There’s a trope in the minimalism world that equates collecting to hoarding and I realized that’s exactly what I was doing. I was piling up papers bound together in hopes that I would learn something new or gain new perspectives. Obviously, not bad things to strive for. But when I thought of the space they took up and the prospect of moving with nearly 600 books in tow, it all made so much sense! So how did I go from a certified book addict to only purchasing one book between May 2017 and now?
First things first, I noticed I had a problem; I realized I could never actually read my all my books cover to cover in my lifetime. Especially with the added bonus of utilizing the library and borrowing books from friends. Another huge wake up call was how much I was spending on said books. A trip to Barnes & Noble on average probably cost me more than a $100. Of course, books also have an environmental impact and a new book economy could be in our future, but we’re going to sidebar that issue here–mainly because I don’t know how to solve author compensation for their work and it makes me sad. But hey! We’re all college students and our bank accounts could use a break from purchasing books for leisure.
How to Make the Transition
Browsing books is actually fun, regardless if you leave the store with any. If you’re skilled at self-regulation, still hit up Barnes and other bookstores! I hit all the new release sections, employee recommendations, and then my favorite sections. Just keep a list or snap a photo of the cover on your phone so you can track it down in another fashion. Also, keep up to date on listicles of new book releases; there are some fun ones on very specific topics like this one from bitchmedia.
Keeping an organized list is another fun issue to tackle, I used to keep a long running list using the evernote app on my phone. I then decided to get more organized and created a google doc titled “ Books on Specific Topics”. This means that whenever I’m in the mood for or want to learn something specific I can consult this list. Also shoutout to Goodreads, their algorithm for suggestions isn’t always accurate. But I do a little cyberstalking of people who love a book I love and peek their shelves.
The All Holy Library System
Now, how will you be able to satiate your appetite for the written word? Get to know all the wonderful services your local library offers. I’m a resident of Gloucester County so I use the Glassboro Public Library. I utilize their interlibrary loan service to order books throughout the state. If you like ebooks or audiobooks, they also give you access to Overdrive and Hoopla. These are apps you can download for free and borrow items just as as you would an actual book.
Rowan’s library also has interlibrary loans; you can find this on the homepage of the Campbell library. I included a screenshot to make it easier! You’ll click on E-Z borrow and from there it’s self explanatory. There’s another service that’s mostly for journals that gave an error message when I tried signing up so if you’re interested in ILLiad you might want to get help from a librarian. Also, don’t underestimate the offerings the actual library has, especially when you add in the ebooks you can instantly borrow.
As Rowan students, we are paying for these services. As taxpayers, we are paying for our local library services. So please get out and use them!