Posted on by torissia

Battle of the Books: From an Environmental Perspective, Does Digital or Physical Win?

I’ve always been a fan of physical books. I’ve tried to get into e-readers, but for me the format makes focusing on the text more difficult. I find that most people tend to prefer one or the other, and to each their own. But I remember when my mom first got a kindle, and she was telling me about how great it is, that one of her points was that it was better for the environment. And something I’ve always wondered in response is, well is it really? As an environmental studies major I’m always trying to find out ways to be more sustainable with my consumption. I think hobbies, like reading, are important to have, and not something to forgo simply in the name of the environment, but find myself wondering if there’s ways to still enjoy it more ethically?

Tablet vs. E-reader: From Creation to Use to Disposal

When considering the environmental impacts of e-readers and print books, there are a lot of factors to consider. For example, size of the book, hardcover vs paperback (paperback is typically more sustainable), etc. For the sake of this comparison, everything is based on the average book; paperbacks roughly 200-350 pages in length. But if you are a big fan of longer books with hardcovers, that is a good factor to consider when personally deciding which is best for you.

In order to get an in-depth view of how different reading methods of choice impacts the environment, we must investigate their whole lifespans, from cradle to grave. We’ll start at the same place a book or tablet’s life starts; production. Upfront, the environmental impact of creating an e-reader vastly outweighs a single paperback. NPR states that due to the extraction of materials to create the devices, like batteries, a process which is very energy and water intensive, “the average e-reader has a carbon footprint of around 80 pounds,”(Veltman). Compared to a standard book, this up front impact vastly outweighs the average physical copy, which has an average upfront footprint of 2.2 pounds of Co2 emissions. 

The publishing industry also has some issues with disposing of books they overstock and cannot sell. This practice is wasteful and contributes to the environmental harm of physical books. However, in recent years, more publishing companies have switched to printing on demand or donating unsold books, lessening this issue slightly (Brendensen). Some publishers have also switched to using recycled paper for printing, although this is not yet the industry norm.

However, beyond production, things start to take a turn towards favoring the e-reader side. Once books or tablets are produced, they must be shipped to your location (Interested in impact of the shipping industry? Check out this article, “Perspectives on shipping emissions and their impacts on the surface ocean and lower atmosphere”). The heavier weight of a physical copy means that transporting it takes more energy to transport, not to mention that if you intend to read multiple books, each will need to be shipped, versus a tablet which only needs to be shipped once.

Back on criticism for e-readers, charging does have to be taken into account. E-readers typically hold their charge for a long time if only used for reading. If you use it for one hour of reading each day, the charge would last about three weeks (Jarvis). Charging a tablet to full power has an average environmental impact of 26 pounds of CO2 each year (Riehl). Source of the energy factors into sustainability as well. Charging e-readers is less of an environmental concern if your energy is supplied through sustainable sources; in Washington, most of our energy, 69%, is hydropower (WA State Dept. of Commerce), making this downside to e-readers less substantial.

Lastly, lifespan and end of life sustainability is important to consider. Books can be functional for decades if well taken care of, while e-readers tend to die off after around three to five years of usage, and then need to be replaced (Roy). The components of paper books are also easier to recycle than e-waste from a tablet, although e-waste recycling technology has been improving a bit over the years.

So what’s the verdict? Well, it ultimately depends on how much you are reading. According to Mike Berners-Lee, author of The Carbon Footprint of Everything, one e-reader has the environmental footprint equivalent of around 36 average sized paperback books; meaning that in its three year lifespan, if you read more than 13 books a year, it is most likely the more sustainable choice. However, if you read less than 13 annually, print is the way to go. Similar findings by Pierre Oliver Roy for NPR found that e-readers are more sustainable if you read an average of 20 or more university textbooks on it over its lifespan of three years. The graph below showcases his findings in more detail, explaining how the number of books read and the way the tablet is used (i.e. for books only or for other purposes) factor into the sustainability.

So there, we have it; people who read large numbers of books could reduce their footprint with an e-reader, and for people who read fewer, print is more sustainable. But, wait! A third (or fourth?!) option has entered the arena! You really thought you could read this library blog post without me mentioning the sustainability of library books? And what about preowned print books?

Second Hand Books:

Used books have significant advantages to both new print and digital. Instead of being disposed of, a new book prevents waste from occurring, extending the story’s lifespan to a whole new owner. There is no concern over emissions from manufacturing, as the emissions already occurred when created for the first buyer. This win-win of both preventing new emissions and lessening waste makes used books more sustainable than both e-readers and new physical books. And, when you factor in transport, things get even better. Most books and tablets are produced, or have components which are produced, from other countries, which need to be assembled and then shipped to your local bookstore or home. Meanwhile, used books are often donated by local people to local book or second hand stores, making the emissions of transport only the distance you and the donor drove to the store (if either party drove at all- taking public transit, walking, or biking to the shop would reduce this even further).

Looking for used books but not sure where to start? Thrift stores are usually the lowest price point, although sometimes they require a little more digging to find titles interesting to you as their donation processing is typically less discerning and selection less organized compared to a designated used book store. Half Price Books is a popular chain with a wide selection (I usually go to their Redmond location and it’s really nice!), but if you want to support small local businesses, here’s some I recommend:

  • Third Place Books, which has three locations in the greater Seattle area; one in Lake Forest Park, one in Ravenna, and one in Seward Park. This is my personal go-to, and they stock a mix of used and new books. Plus the Lake Forest Park location has a bakery right next to it!
  • BookTree in Kirkland, a smaller store near the waterfront which has used and new titles.
  • Ophelia’s Books in Fremont, with new and used books and a shop cat!【≽ܫ≼】.
Source: brewbooks, “Bookstore Cat at Ophelia’s Books”, https://www.flickr.com/photos/brewbooks/417180885/.

You can also exchange books with friends and family, which I always really enjoy as afterwards you get to discuss the book together. Plus this option is very budget friendly!

What about Libraries?

Could there even be a more sustainable option than supporting the circular economy at a local used bookstore? Slightly, if you also consider libraries! Library books are reused by many patrons, allowing books to be circulated dozens of times to different members of the community. The average library book is circulated eight times each year (Talbot). While there is some carbon emissions in the first ordering of a new book for a library, compared to the number of people who get to read it, an average of 40-80 times in the book’s whole lifespan, these emissions of library books are spread out to be much less per person. Some libraries also accept donated used materials for their collections, for instance at the campus library we receive several donated books each year. In this scenario, a book is not only saved from the landfill, but able to recirculate among many library users for several more years. 

The implication for carbon footprint reduction from library user usage of library systems over purchasing their own copies is huge. In 2023 in Washington state public libraries alone, 49,002,399 physical items were circulated (2023 Circulation). That’s 49,002,399 DVDs, books, and magazines that instead of being created new were able to be enjoyed by the public without extra emissions from production and shipping overseas. 

While I think it’s important to stay informed as a consumer, just know that this comparison was all for fun. Whatever format that encourages you to read and learn is the best format for you! Everyone has their reasons for what they choose; some people like to hold a physical book, and some people enjoy the easy transportability of a tablet; some like to collect and curate their own collection, while others like the low stake (and low cost) exploration of the wide variety of books that libraries offer. From an environmental standpoint, there are certainly ways to reduce your consumption if you are a book lover. However, if the pressure to be environmentally perfect prevents you from enjoying your hobbies, my personal philosophy is that you can keep this area of somewhat less environmentally friendly consumption and find other areas in your life to reduce your impact in ways that make sense for you. But if you are a nerd like me, impartial to your format of choice, and curious about ways to make reading a little more sustainable, then I hope you’ve enjoyed this deep dive into the sustainability of books!

Want to dive even deeper into environmentally conscious reading? Check out these resources from the UW Bothell and Cascadia College Library to learn more!

Works Cited

“2023 Circulation and Collection Use” Washington Secretary of State, 2023, https://www2.sos.wa.gov/_assets/library/libraries/libdev/downloads/statistics/23stats/circulation.pdf. Accessed 10 Dec 2024

Brendensen, Macy. “Book Waste: The Dangers of Publishing and the Ethical Consumption of Books.” Chicago Review of Books, 7 Dec. 2023, https://chireviewofbooks.com/2023/12/07/book-waste-the-dangers-of-publishing-and-the-ethical-consumption-of-books/. Accessed December 13th, 2024.

Jarvis, Krystina. “Which has a smaller eco-footprint: Physical Books, eBooks, or Audiobooks?” A Drop in the Ocean, 2 Feb 2023, https://adropintheoceanshop.com/blogs/blog/which-is-more-sustainable-physical-books-ebooks-or-audiobooks. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Muller, Natalie. “Paper book or e-reader: Which is better for the planet?” DW, 23 Feb. 2024, https://www.dw.com/en/paper-book-or-e-reader-which-is-better-for-the-planet/a-68314697. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024

Riehl, Laura. “The Carbon Footprint of Everyday Technology.” Medium, 3 Feb. 2024, https://medium.com/@laurariehl/the-carbon-footprint-of-everyday-technology-57d97db6c2e4. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.

Roy, Pierre-Oliver. “The environmental footprint of paper vs. electronic books.” Anthropocene Magazine, https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2020/08/the-environmental-footprint-of-paper-vs-electronic-books/. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Talbot, Dean. “Impact of Libraries on Book Publishing.” Wordsrated, 28 Feb. 2023, https://wordsrated.com/impact-of-libraries-on-book-publishing/#:~:text=Each%20library%20book%20could%20be,through%20OverDrive%20as%20of%202022. Accessed 10 Dec 2024.

Veltman, Chloe. “What’s better for the climate: A paper book or an e-reader?” NPR, 25 May 2024, https://www.npr.org/2024/05/25/1252930557/book-e-reader-kindle-climate. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Washington State Department of Commerce. “Clean Technology” Choose Washington. https://choosewashingtonstate.com/why-washington/our-key-sectors/clean-technology/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024

Posted on by swinter2

Ten Books for Diversity, Difference, and Social Justice

I wrote and filmed this video as a final assignment for BIS 255 Critical Diversity with Dr. Jeff Murr during Winter Quarter 2024. I was so pleased with it, I decided to share it with others via the Campus Library Blog. This was my first ever self-video, so please forgive any production issues! Follow the links in the transcript below to view the books in our Campus Library catalog.

[Transcript]

Hello, and welcome to Basement Book Talk. I’m your host, Steve, and welcome to my library in the basement. For my first episode, I have a Top Ten List of books for social justice librarians, or anyone interested in celebrating and centering difference. This is a highly opinionated list of five non-fiction and five science fiction books that I think everyone should read at some point, or at least know about.

First and foremost is A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn. This is the book that changed it all for me. After reading the first few chapters for a class, I bought the book and read it over the summer of 1989 and it changed my life. This was one of the first books of what some call revisionist history, but more accurately, it’s real history as it tells the story of not just white European Americans, but everyone in the United States—hence the title “A People’s History”. Absolutely a must read.

Dovetailing perfectly with Zinn is my second book, A Different Mirror by Ronald Takaki. I read several chapters for a course Spring Quarter 2023 and much like A People’s History, it is a narrative history of all people in the multicultural United States. Takaki specifically tells the stories of minority groups, such as Native Americans, Black and LatinX people and Asians, specifically Chinese, Japanese, and Arab Americans. Takaki is a wonderful storyteller, and this book is wonderful as well.

Third, Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire. I have known about this book for decades but did not actually read it until last year when I returned to college. One of the very first assignments was the chapter on “The Banking Concept of Education” and it blew my mind. It gave me a whole new way of looking at not just education but also society and the world in general. I feel like if I had read this when I was in my 20s instead of my 50s, my life trajectory may have changed completely.

Number four: Orientalism by Edward Said. Another book I’ve known about forever, but only read now that I’m back in college. If you’ve ever taken a class on ethnicity and race, global studies, or culture, literature, and arts, you’ve probably encountered this incredible book. What Zinn did for American history, Said did for cultural studies, looking at the relations between European and “The Orient” [air quotes]. Groundbreaking, foundational classic. It is the text that launched subaltern studies and is so important when discussing colonialism and imperialism in any context.

Number five and the last of the nonfiction is The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley. Like many other people, I was someone who thought I knew what Malcolm X was all about, but I discovered that you can’t really understand the real Malcolm X until you read and hear his own words. I read this a few years after the Spike Lee movie came out and it was so darn good. This is not just Malcolm’s life story but also what he believed in and what he stood up for. Even though he has been gone for decades now, his work and his ideas resonate to this day. This should be read by everyone, especially anyone who believes that Black lives matter.

On to science fiction. These may not be as directly related to social justice as the first five books, but imagining the future is an excellent way to shine a light on issues of the past and present. Some of these futures are positive, some are negative, but one can imagine and explore from there.

First off, number six: The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin. This is a utopian novel but not your typical dystopian novel like we have today. It contrasts two very different worlds: one very much like our own world with various nation states in conflict with each other, the other an exile community on the planet’s moon and the egalitarian anarchist society they’ve created. This book is incredible and so densely packed with ideas. You could read this for so many different classes: literature, political science, even Eastern philosophy, and physics! Honestly, you can read anything by Ursula K. Le Guin as it’s all great.

Speaking of other great authors where you cannot go wrong with anything they’ve written: number seven is The Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. I read this shortly after moving to Seattle in 1995 and it was so good and so gripping, it drew me in, and I read it in one sitting. I’ve been meaning to re-read it for years, but the dysfunctional America portrayed in the beginning of this book is way too similar to current conditions we’re living in and that’s just depressing. However, there is indeed hope in this absolutely brilliant book. So many people acknowledge Butler and this book’s importance and I do, too.

Coming in at number eight is The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson. It asks: what if the Black Death had killed 90% of the European population instead of 50? With that vacuum, the centrality of power and civilization grows up outside of Europe, namely the Arab world, India, China, and Japan. It covers 600 years by moving through different periods of this new history and looks at what might have been with these cultures rising to prominence instead of a European based dominant culture. The last chapter, rather than riffing on our own history, steps a bit into the future and it is so revolutionary and hopeful. After I finished it, I had to just lie there for a good half hour thinking about it because I was so overwhelmed… but overwhelmed in the best way.

Back to a more negative, dark outlook for the future: number nine is The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi. This novel takes place in a world not too distant from our own today as it is post everything: post climate change with rising ocean levels, the collapse of the natural environment and commercial agriculture, beyond peak oil with the exhaustion of fossil fuels. It takes place in Bangkok Thailand, and I think it’s the first near-future book I read that did not have a white American or European as its main character. It is one of the most depressing science fiction books I’ve ever read, but it is so detailed and so insightful as to what may come to pass in our own world, that I have to recommend it anyway.

And finally, number ten! While it does not specifically get into issues of race, ethnicity, and gender that are at the forefront of social justice movements, it is still a very important book… and it’s also my favorite science fiction book of all time: Dune by Frank Herbert. This is absolutely incredible world building and a deep meditation on politics, ecology, religion, and the nature of power. I first read this in junior high and at this point, I’ve read it more times than I can count. Every time I reread it, I get something new out of it. If you’ve seen any of the movies, you seriously need to read the book! It fills in so much more detail about this amazingly crafted universe and the ideas within. And like I said, it’s one of my all-time favorites. 🙂

I hope you enjoyed this list and I sincerely hope you go to your local library, independent bookstore, or wherever you get your books to check out any or all of these titles I recommend as essentials for any social justice activist library. Regardless of what you choose to read, learn about the past and think about the future. Together, let’s create a more just and equitable world, here and now, today and tomorrow.

Keep reading and keep fighting.