The Environmental Defenders were founded in 1970 and have three main goals: to preserve and protect the environment in McHenry County, and to educate its residents. They also run two bookstores.
Green Read Bookstore Manager Pam Johnson says there are environmental benefits in a used bookstore.
“We've kept tens of thousands of books out of the landfill," she said. "At the same time, the sales from those books go toward our environmental projects here in the county. It's a win-win.”
Johnson also says the bookstore's building itself is pretty special, too.
"We're on the historic downtown Williams Street, about half a block from the train station," she said. "There are tons of wonderful things in downtown Crystal Lake that we participate in. The Crystal Lake Store was, earlier this year, designated a green business by the city of Crystal Lake sustainability committee.”
While the bookstores aren’t their main form of revenue, the nonprofit says they are essential to spreading the word about the organization and providing a physical space to build community.
Besides the bookstores, the organization has, over its 54 years, conducted wide scale cleanups and restoration projects. They’ve also hosted recycling drives.
This weekend, the bookstore in Crystal Lake is celebrating its anniversary by inviting anybody who hasn’t been in yet to stop by.