On Sept. 28, New Belgium Brewing partnered with Poudre River Friends of the Library to host a book swap that encouraged sustainable exchange while offering attendees a chance to enjoy a free beer and experience the brewery’s lively atmosphere.
New Belgium’s Fat Tire Sustainability Swap is a recurring monthly event where attendees may bring their old items to swap for a free Fat Tire beer. Each swap asks for different items, such as clothing, plants or games, making every month a fresh experience for attendees. Will Kaley, a community member in attendance, discussed what drew him to the event.
“We came because we had some extra books lying around the house,” Kaley said. “We chose to do this because of that, and I like beer.”
The Poudre River Friends of the Library, a nonprofit organization that raises money through used book sales, partnered with New Belgium to promote sustainability while collecting materials for its next used book sale.
Samantha West, a community member in attendance, was happy to have another outlet for sharing books and practicing sustainability.
“I usually do the little free library around the corner of my house, but it’s been really full lately,” West said. “I like sharing books; it’s good for the environment not to just keep buying books either.”
Emmalee Severson, a board member for Poudre River Friends of the Library, emphasized the benefits of the book swap and its impact on the community.
“I think it’s important to keep physical print alive, so this is a really good way to do that without creating a ton of waste with extra paper being used. This is better than reading on a Kindle app and listening to audiobooks all the time.” – Megan Kincaid, Fort Collins community member
“New Belgium has done a couple book swaps now, and they’ve been bringing their books that are leftover after, and they end up back at our used book sales,” Severson said. “We sell books typically for $1 to $4.”
In an increasingly digital age, libraries and events like these seek to preserve the role of physical books in the digital age. Megan Kincaid, a community member in attendance, noted that the event fostered a sense of shared values around the continued use of physical books.
“I like a physical book,” Kincaid said. “I think it’s important to keep physical print alive, so this is a really good way to do that without creating a ton of waste with extra paper being used. This is better than reading on a Kindle app and listening to audiobooks all the time. It’s a good way to have the physical books without creating extra waste.”
In the spirit of sustainability, Severson further encouraged attendees to keep their local libraries in mind when looking for a literary alternative to digital media.
“There are so many books out there,” Severson said. “Your library is a very sustainable option. I always have to pitch that. Libraries are so sustainable. It’s just shared community items.”
The event brought members of the Fort Collins community together over shared interests in reading and sustainability, while also fostering connections through collective action. Jamela Thompson, a Fort Collins resident, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage with her local community.
“We’re new to Fort Collins,” Thompson said. “We have had environmental jobs, so it is important to us. We just want to be involved in the community, and we just think it is super cool that New Belgium does so many community gathering events like this.”
Reach Claire VanDeventer at life@collegian.com or on social media @rmcollegian.
