Used books have a plethora of advantages, some obvious, other less so. The perks can extend beyond money saving to you, your community, and even the environment! There are several places to get used books each with its own sets of pros and cons.

The most obvious reason to purchase used books is the price difference. Often used textbooks can be found online for half the price of school bookstores. In fact, it has become such a common practice for college students to scour the web for used books; there are now dozens of sites for doing so. There are even sites which compare the prices of books on other sites! Besides saving a ton of dough, used textbooks sometimes come complete with margin notes, which may help you better understand the material.

Nothing is without disadvantages however, and in the world of used books, this can be the riskiest situation. If the seller has listed the book wrong and the edition or volume is not what you expected you could be stuck with a book that does you no good whatsoever. While highlighting and notes can be nice, if the former owner didn’t think quite like you the notes and highlighting may be more of a distraction that a useful bonus.

Buying used books for pleasure can be a very gratifying experience, though it is less often done. The simple act of buying a used book puts two of the three R’s into action. You are Reducing the amount of energy and raw material necessary for the creation of new books, and at the same time Re-using a material good that has already been produced and used. If you re-sell or swap the book you’ve Recycled it, closing the loop. Used books are green, no question about it.

Where you purchase the books can have an impact as well. Most brick-and-mortar used book stores are small, locally owned businesses. Purchasing from these stores keeps your money local which provides jobs in your community and enhances the local economy overall. If you purchase books from a Goodwill, Salvation Army, or library store your money goes directly to helping the community. You can think of it as a donation with a free gift.

One of the most often overlooked incentives for buying used books is the book itself. Used books have a certain charm. No two books will ever wear in exactly the same way, so the battle scars of a book are unique and cannot be duplicated. Factories can pump out millions of jeans with the exact same fading, and rips in the knees, but each book is always an individual. You may also find bookmarks, tickets, notes, or who knows what else inside them. Sometimes a used book is like a treasure hunt, or a glimpse into someone else’s life.

Of course it’s not all good, sometimes a book smells of cigarette smoke or cheap perfume. Once in awhile you’ll turn the page only to find the next one missing, the book isn’t always what you expected, or hoped. In the end, however, used books are charming, environmentally friend, and economically sound. Next time you’re hankering for a good read, head down to your local bookshop and see what you can find.