With our fast-paced lives and the ease of ordering and buying things online, we’ve forgotten about our local options to save money in our very own backyard. Do you want to pass up free services? The largest and most easily accessible is your neighborhood library branch. When is the last time that you went to the library? Do you even know all of the options that they offer? Let’s examine some items that you may be missing. You can make a few changes in your habits that could amount to considerable money earnings for you and your family.
What is your personal reason for not using the library? Convenience? Not a big reader? The good news is your local library system can offer you far more than you probably were even aware of AND is more convenient than you may think. Unfortunately, there has been a steady decline in library usage over the years with an approximate 3% decrease every year. We all know how important convenience is in our lives today. Public libraries have been around for a very long time and are utilized all over the world. You may think that all you can do is borrow books there, but those days are long gone.
The first step to get you on your way is to get a “library card”. It’s easy to do and may vary by area. For some libraries, you have to do continual updates every so often to make sure that you’re still living within their system area. For others, it’s a one-time thing. Usually, you just need some sort of identification and could include items such as a driver’s license, state ID, passport, school identification, employee identification, or even a utility statement. There is no minimum age to partake in their services.
Let’s talk about some of the things that you can do at a library. It’s important to note that the items that I am going to discuss will depend on your local library, so please check with your branch to see the services that they offer. I have personal experience covering four states, six cities, and countless library branches.
Subscriptions and Resources
You can do a simple Google search and read a bunch of random people’s opinions about a certain product, price, or utility. I love that the library has Consumer Reports. The researchers there test every product they review and rank the best products and pros and cons. You can get an online prescription for this information, but get the same information is completely free at the library. Other resources include peer review journals that can be used for term papers.
Hard Copy Books, E-Books, E-Magazines, and Audiobooks
Books and magazines are available both electronically or hard copy. Depending on your local library system, the expansiveness of the offerings can vary quite a bit. Some have very large collections of options and are up to date with the newest items. Others, aren’t so extensive. **A side note is that Amazon Prime or the Kindle App also have free options for audios and E-books.
Music, TV and Even Movie Streaming
Before streaming, I would bring home CD’s (music and books on tape) upload them to iTunes and then download them to my children’s iPod Touch so they could fall asleep listening to books. But since then, library technology has come a long way. You can download directly from apps like Hoopla, Freegal, and Kanopy. I have not personally used Kanopy, but the others work very well and easily. Again, check with your local library for what apps they have access to.
Languages
Mango Languages is completely free with a library card. Mango offers up to 71 languages and can be accessed at the library, remotely, or even on the go with apps for your phone, Kindle, and Nook. Not all libraries offer Mango, so I hope that yours does. Skip the pricey language offerings and get it for free from your local library.
Accommodations for Special Needs
Open Dyslexic Font is available on all of the digital E-books. Speak to your librarian to get more specific information about this. For people with compromised vision, blindness, or who may have a physical disability (not being able to hold a book), the Talking Book Program is available. This is not available to everyone so ask about the qualifications needed for the program.
College/Job Prep/Tutoring
So many ways that you can utilize the library that it’s always so astounding to me how few people know all of the resources that can be used. So many test prep books, questions, and info can be accessed through Learning Express Library. Brainfuze offers live tutoring all the way up to the collegiate level and they will even review papers, resumes, and cover letters. WHAT!? Yep, seriously! Studiosity is an online homework help platform for students. It’s supported by professionals.
Programs and Classes
Your local public library may offer things such as writing workshops, flower arranging, author visits, book clubs, drawing clubs, tax help, and so much more. I personally have taken some courses and used to do a book club though the library. Lots of opportunities to broaden your horizons.
Libraries offer programs for both children and adults. They have storybook reading hours for children, and much more. If you stay at home with your children and you want more socialization, the library is a great place to be with other children as well as fostering a love of reading. When my kids were little, the classes began for children even before they could walk. There were options to sing songs, read, and play with them in the classes. You also got a chance to meet other moms with young children. Again, you need to contact your local library to find out what types of offerings they have.
Memories
Who has digital memories that they want to upgrade to current technology?? I’m sure we can all raise our hands. Memory Lab is a service where you can learn how to preserve these items. It is completely free and even include classes on how to do this. It’s not uncommon to have free equipment you can use to digitize VHS, cassettes, and old family photos and docs. Smaller cities may not have this technology, so check with your library to see if you can access these services.
Miscellaneous
Ask your librarian. Many libraries may offer uncommon services that are particular to your area. When I was young, the library in my home town allowed us to check out toys. My brother and I especially loved this because our finances were tight and with the library system, we were able to try a variety of toys that we wouldn’t have been able to. I loved this. Toys may not be the only items offered. Tools are also something you may also find. Different locations and areas of the country will offer different items based on demand, size of city, and resources. I’ve heard of a library in Pittsburgh that even offers air quality monitors for checkout.
Request
One of my favorite parts of the library system is the requesting option. Luckily, you no longer have to go to the library hoping for a book to be available and leave in disappointment when it’s not. You can request it and wait until it arrives and you will be notified via text or email. I find this system to be incredibly convenient. This means that you can look for items beyond just your branch, but they will forward it, within your county, to the library close to you to pick up at your convenience. Renewals are also easier. If you want to renew the item that you have, you can go online and as long as it has not been requested by someone else…done.
Event Space
Most libraries have private rooms that you can reserve for miscellaneous events, studying, or almost anything you can think of. When my kids were young, I would do tutoring at the library. It was a perfect, quiet place. If you’re looking for a meeting room, skip the cafes or coffee shops and go for your local library. It truly is a diamond in the rough and IT’S ALL FREE.
Discounts
I recently found out through moneycrashers.com that some libraries offer discounts or free passes on local attractions and could include things like museums, zoos, and botanical gardens. You could save bundles on this alone. You typically “borrow” the pass for a specific amount of time and then return it to the library. Though not exactly an official discount, some libraries may keep track and show you how much money that you earn by using the library services. As of April 2, my mom had earned $324.80 and a total of $6,011.24 since she began using the library. How is that for perspective??
Old School CD’s DVD’s
Even though many people rely heavily on digital downloads and audios, most public libraries still have CD’s (music/books) and DVD’s. A downside to the DVD’s is that they don’t always have the new releases. That’s okay for me since there are a lot of movies that I still haven’t seen. You don’t have to pay for a Netflix subscription to explore movies. Of course, the library doesn’t carry everything (books included) so there will be items that you just won’t find, no matter how much time has passed. Important to note that you can request that your library order a specific item. Check with your librarian for this service. When I go on long road trips, I prefer to listen to audio books to help the time pass. If I have a specific book that I want to listen to, I just download it via hoopla, but if I’m open to something new, I’ll go to the library and look at the books on CD to pick out something that is interesting to me.
Internet and Wifi
Another perk that the library offers for free is the use of their computers and internet. Whether you want to play games, research the purchase of a used car, or catch up on gossip, you can use the computer for free. Depending on the availability and the number of computers, there may be a limit on your usage. I know that everyone likes to do this in their own home, but if this is not financially feasible for you, the library is a fantastic alternative. Just because you can’t afford a computer or the internet doesn’t mean you have to be out of the loop on technology. Depending on availability, there may be a time limit. Libraries also have the availability of printers, both black & white and color. There may be a small fee for this.
Books for Sale
Almost all libraries offer books for sale that have been donated. If you don’t currently donate your books to the library, start making a habit of it. They usually are priced by individual book or a flat fee for a bag of similar topics. These costs are a fraction of the cost. This is great for those books that you want to keep on hand or even give as gifts to friends/family. And when you’re done reading them, bring them back to the library for the next person to buy. It helps the library with expenses and allows them to offer even more services.
Ask a Librarian
The librarians working at the desk and around the library have a wealth of information. With simple book recommendations, answering technical questions, and everything in between. They know the ins and outs of the library and all of the tricks of the trade. They are the experts of the library and are amazing.
After reading this blog, I hope that it makes you run straight out to your local public library to get a library card. If you are already part of a library system, you can see all of the other services that can benefit you. The only downside I see to the library system is that they may have limited hours. Otherwise, I cannot speak highly enough about the system and all that it can do for you and your family to earn money.
Comments