Saving Money with the Library

You can save money with your library.  This may seem common sense to many out there, but you would be surprised at how many people think a library is just a place with books in it.  The modern library has so much more to offer and it will all save you money. 

I can only tell you what our library district is doing, so some of these may not apply at your library. So be sure to check out your local library and see what they have to offer.  You might be surprised. 

Ok, so first, yes, libraries have books.  You can often get the most recent best seller book and check it out, read it, and return it for free.  Most best seller titles at a book store will cost you $20 to $30 unless they are having a bargain bin sale.  And what do you do with your book after you have read it?  Are you going to actually read it again?  I can probably count the books I plan on rereading on two hands.  So definitely check the books out at your local library first.  If you do find one you absolutely love and wish to read and reread, then by all means, purchase it from your bookstore.  You can also download books with eMedia.  So if you have a kindle, nook, ipad, or other device, you can download many titles there and read your books on your device.

Second, libraries offer free movie rentals.  Older libraries may still have VHS but our system has DVD’s including many that are newer that you might find in a Redbox or Pay For View.  We allow ten DVD’s to be checked out at one time on a card, so going at $1 each at Redbox, the library in one check out can save you $10.  If the movie you want is not in the collection, our system has eVideos you can download or stream live. 

Third, libraries have music cd’s.  Whatever your musical taste, you can find something at the library to listen to.  There is everything from pop to jazz, opera to movie soundtracks, to kids music.  If you are not a music lover, you can also listen to books on cd, and these range from nonfiction to fiction, mystery, sci-fi, western, and from kids to teens and adults.  You can also download audio books from the eMedia resource.

Fourth, there are database.  They cover a huge range of topics.  If you are researching something, there is probably a database for you.  There are science, business, history, newspaper archives, and even job hunting resources.  On a personal note, my husband needed a listing of business by type and income range within a certain geographic range.  He looked online and found a place that would provide him this list for several thousand dollars.  I told him to check out one of our resources, ReferenceUSA.  He did and found the answers he needed for FREE.  That was about a $4000.00 savings!  You cannot beat that. 

Fifth, one of my personal favorites that our library system began offering recently is eCourses.  These are six week long online courses that many colleges offer for cost.  After looking online at some course catalogs, I have found the same courses offered for several hundred dollars.  Through the library you can take the same courses and get a completion certificate for free.  Or you can take a course for free to see if it is something you want to spend money on.  It’s a great way to beef up your resume or to just keep those brain juices flowing to ward off Alzheimer’s and such.  You are never too old to learn something new.  At last count, our eCourse catalog held several thousand courses, so there is surely something to interest you. 

Sixth on the list is the variety of programs.  There are programs for kids, story-times, craft programs, knitting programs, book clubs, author talks, free movie showings, computer classes, game programs, you name it.  In our library, these are free.  I have heard of some library systems that charge a nominal fee for supplies, so you would have to check with your local system to find out their process.  Some require a sign up and sometimes there is a limit to how many participants can come to a particular program or class, so be sure to sign up early if required.

Seventh, there are computers for public access, as well as wifi if you bring in your own device.  If your internet goes down at home, or your computer crashes, or you cannot afford internet, you can simply go to the library and access it there for free.   

And lastly, you can get personal attention at the library, all at no charge to you.  If you need help finding a book, the librarian will show you how to use the online catalog or show you how the library is laid out.  If you have a relatively simple question at the computer, they can often come and help you work through it.  Though if you have a lot of questions or are inexperienced at using the computers, you should probably consider taking the free computer classes or take an online computer course.  If the librarian doesn’t know the answer, he or she can probably tell you where to find the answer. 

This is just scratching the surface.  If you dig deeper into the system, you will find so much more.  So while many people think you can find all your answers online with google or go buy your books, the library remains a vital and amazing resource.  It can save you money in so many ways.  So be sure to check your local library system, and get a card if you don’t already have one.  And then plan a trip to your library and partake of the many offerings there.  You will not be disappointed.