This is what my house looks like...

Photo courtesy of Photos8.com

Okay, so this isn't really my house.  But I used to be a total book hog.  I bought TONS of books!  Then, one day I started realizing that I RARELY ever read a book twice.  I started to think I was wasting money by buying these books and storing them, while buying more and more bookshelves to keep them available.  Silly, since I never gave a book away and only occasionally lent them to friends or family.  

I love to read and have kept reading a lot, even since my son was born.  I really feel that I can't live without books.  We are super lucky to have an awesome library network in our area.  So, I still get to read a lot of awesome books and I feel a bit better about the resources I'm consuming when I read the latest Jodi Picoult (House Rules was AWESOME, btw!).  We're close enough to a library branch that we often walk there when the weather is nice; even more green!  My son loves it for the Thomas train set, but I'm sure eventually it will help foster a love of books in him too!  

So today's tip is to visit your local library!  If you really must have the latest novel and you can't wait to get it from the library - buy it, read it and then donate it back to your library!  You'll be helping the economy and your community (If they can't use it, they'll sell it.).  Library sales are also good places to get books inexpensively (and after they've been well-loved) if you really want to keep books that you own nearby! 

P.S. Today's post is in memory of my Grandpa, Hank Carothers, who passed away this past Monday.  He was an avid reader, who surrounded himself with (used) books.  I'm so lucky to have had him in my life, inspiring my love of reading, among many other passions.  He will be greatly missed.