My husband and I follow the blog The Simple Dollar, a website with financial advice for everyday people. Trent Hamm runs the site and you can read about him and his work here.
Trent has always been a big proponent of the public library as a great value for entertainment. On Sunday, he featured the library.
I have posted his article here today.
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Check Out the Library--Not Just For Books
The public library is my single favorite “free” resource in my community. In fact, I value it so much that I actually posted a visual tour of the local library I use the most on this site a few years ago.
(It’s worth noting that libraries aren’t truly free. While you don’t
have to pay any money immediately to use the resources, libraries are
usually funded by a mix of taxpayer dollars, grants, and donations.
However, the value that most people get out of the library, if they
choose to use it, far exceeds what goes into the library.)
A good library isn’t some unique resource that you’ll just find in
certain towns. Most towns have a library, even small ones like the one
depicted below.
What value can you get out of your local library? I’m going to
reiterate some of the items mentioned in my “tour” post above, along
with some other value that libraries contribute.
Books Yes, libraries are a warehouse of books that
you can check out for free. You can also find magazines, newspapers,
tax documents, and other such printed material at the library, too.
Beyond that, most librarians are quite happy to share their expertise in
helping you find the right book for your needs and interests.
Music Most libraries have a collection of CDs that
you can check out for your own enjoyment. Larger libraries even have
musical discovery programs to help introduce you to new kinds of music
that you may never have known about before.
Films Many libraries have DVDs that you can check
out. Some libraries carry this further and show films at the library.
Larger libraries even have a small auditorium which goes a long way
toward creating a theater-like experience for free.
Cultural events Libraries often host muscial
groups, speakers, and presenters of all kinds for the public to enjoy.
At my own library, I’ve heard authors speak and bands perform. I’ve
seen jugglers juggle and movie directors present their work.
Audiobooks Going on a trip? Your library likely
has a good collection of audiobooks to check out that will make your
travel a lot more enjoyable.
Meeting places Many libraries have rooms that can
be used for meetings of community groups. I’ve participated in gaming
groups and book clubs at libraries, and I’ve seen everything from
gardening clubs to jester training (yes, jester training) at libraries.
Children’s resources Libraries often have abundant
children’s resources. For example, right now my children are involved
in a robust reading program that rewards them for summer reading with
new books and other items, plus there’s a weekly storytime and other
activities at the library for them.
Internet access Almost every library today offers
computer use with internet access for those who do not have access to
the internet at home. Many libraries offer wi-fi access for people who
bring in their laptops and other devices.
Teen resources Many larger libraries offer teen
programs, including rooms where teens can hang out together in a safe
yet private environment. They also offer book clubs targeting
teenagers.
Additional community resources Some libraries offer
additional services beyond these. For example, some local libraries
offer battery recycling. One local library near us offers free paper
recycling for people who don’t have home pick-up.
Your local library has a wealth of resources right there for you to take advantage of. All you have to do is walk in the door.
This post is part of a yearlong series called “365 Ways to Live
Cheap (Revisited),” in which I’m revisiting the entries from my book “365 Ways to Live Cheap,” which is available at Amazon and at bookstores everywhere. Images courtesy of Brittany Lynne Photography, the proprietor of which is my “photography intern” for this project.
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1 comment:
This is GREAT! Thanks for passing it along!
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