Are Phone Books Necessary Anymore?

Today, NY1's Pat Kiernan excitedly recalls the first time seeing his name printed in the phone book... but that was then. Now, he asks, "Why is the phone company still delivering so many phone books to my apartment building?" In the age of Google, it's unlikely anyone uses these anymore — in fact, only two were taken from the giant stack in his lobby.

So why so many phone books, phone companies? Kiernan notes that "Due to a pre-Internet law intended to reduce the number of 411 calls, some states require phone companies to get a copy of the white pages to every customer. Nowadays there’s a growing momentum against the phone book. Alaska and New York are among the states moving toward mandatory opt-in programs for phone book delivery."

On top of being a waste of money (allegedly taxpayers are spending $17 million each year to have them recycled), this group points out that "up to 5 million trees are cut down each year to create the white pages phone book." When's the last time you picked up a phone book?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on January 15, 2010 4:04 PM

Comments [rss]

Potty Boy

Penny-pincher's booster seat.

eat vegans

They work really well at killing mice and waterbugs

ANGRYGOD11

In my building a lot of elderly tenants will never use the Internet. They need The Yellow Pages and they aren't that rare in this town.

afrochunky

My father refuses to use the internet. He has a pile of phone books dating back to '02 ("You can never be too certain.."), as well as a New Jersey one.

Global Wombat

I'll occasionally flip through the pages. When I see one that I fancy, I'll gently rip it from its bindings and cram it all into my mouth. Newer books are much tastier than one that's been sitting for years in a musty drawer, let me tell you.

Pålægpåtoppenafsmørrebrød

Hell No!

snickerdoodle

I definitely still use the yellow pages. I find it's faster to use when I'm looking up local businesses than to get on the computer and search through Google.

The bulkiness is also useful when I need to use it as a doorstop or booster.

As for the white pages, I haven't used those in years.

Snoopy

Get an iphone.

Kevin Walsh

The IPhone or name brand phone plans I've seen are too expensive. I have a tracfone I use when I have to, but I still have the yellow pages, which work for me when I have to look up a hardware store or a contractor. I'll never get used to having to use a cell phone for everything.

NannyState

I keep mine in the kitchenette, on top of the Amana microwave next to the trimline phone on the wall.

Snoopy

I've always loved the look of kitchenettes with their gleaming chrome tubular structure, their tops covered in a boomerang stenciled formica and red and metallic flecked vinyl seats. Plus the nice squeaky sounds of summer when your sweating flesh came up against those same unyielding vinyl pads as one reached for another helping of meat loaf.

Snoopy

I stopped using them when we got indoor plumbing.

Steven

And yet they still drop them in front of people's houses.

thepig

We have had this same problem as well. This is probably the most comprehensive article written on the wasteful practices of these telephone companies, complete with some telephone co.'s responses to the public's concerns about the massive waste and pollution these practices cause. Best of all, you can find ways to help stop the practice, and take an active part of ending the antiquated solution to not having your local pizza shop's phone number.

http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/08/11/green-rant-stop-sending-me-phone-books/

snessnyc

The last time I worked retail (less than 2 years ago), tourists - especially foreign - regularly asked for the Yellow Pages in order to find businesses, restaurants, etc. I occasionally look in the Yellow Pages, too, for local businesses - it's actually often faster to find exactly what you're looking for without wading through all of the unwanted hits that a Google or other Internet search will yield. "What's the name, phone and exact location of that hardware store on 1st Ave somewhere near 13th St.?" Despite all of your smug assurances to the contrary, there are times when a phone book is just better.

jaycjay

"What's the name, phone and exact location of that hardware store on 1st Ave somewhere near 13th St.?"

That's the problem: you're wording your queries incorrectly.

"hardware store 1st ave and 13th manhattan" leaves the answer just a click away. Answers, really, because there are few hardware within a couple of blocks of there.

/smugassurance

Gothamist_Cynic

Total waste of trees.

Mordicai

I picked one up this morning: some jackass had propped open the door to my building with one to make robbery extra easy. I pick them up otherwise to recycle; does that count?