There has been some serious debate over the issue of individuals who use books, whether they are used books or not, to create altered books, which several feel is actually defacing books. However, the majority of the used books that these individuals are using would be ultimately destroyed or wide up in piles of rubbish in some dump site some where.

The fact of the matter is that several publishers actually destroy thousands of books within a single year, which is not including all of the textbooks that our children use that are only meant to be used for a particular set number years and then are also destroyed. These facts are not considered into this debate simply because all individuals are seeing is that the books are being defaced. Not do not take the time to look at the over all picture, due to only seeing what they wish to see. They do not realize that these individuals are actually bringing these used books back to life, which would more than likely never be used again due to the condition they were in before they began their project. Several of these used books are purchased from either garage sales, thrift stores, or from bargain tables at used book stores.

Individuals that become involved with altering books have a passion for paper crafts such as collaging, while others are painters, sculptors, and book artists. The pages contained in these used books, which have been altered, will reflect the personality of the individual through their ability, tastes, and styles. This is the most simplest form of art for individuals to express their feelings using collages, painting, rubber stamps, fabrics, and a variety of pastel chalks, pens, and markers. Many of these individuals will display their new form of art work to showcase them to others, which some have been exhibited in art galleries all over the world.

Several artists will take the used books that they are able to find in used book stores and cut the bindings. Then through the many pages within the book itself the artist will create poems by obliterating words and phrases. Once this process has been completed, then these poem pages are sent around the world to other artists. Altered books are any book whether old, new, or used that has been recycled by any creative means in a new form of art work.

Once individuals take the time to open their minds to this new type of art form, then they soon discover that they no longer feel anxiety over the books being defaced, especially when they realize that these books need to be recycled anyway. They soon come to realize that by saving these books these artists are able to create new pieces of art. The used books are have started becoming their new canvas for them so that they can express themselves. Anyone is capable of creating altered books as long as they have the will power and are creative enough, because there are no rules and the individuals have no limitations as to what they are able to create either.