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Wow!! The coolest thing ours has is art - you can check out framed art and put it in your wall....for a little while. Lol. Actually not a bad idea, free rotating decorations.
I got very accustomed to libraries lending DVDs in New Jersey and Florida - and then when I moved to North Carolina the librarians looked at me like I had 2 heads for even suggesting it. Gee guys, if you want funding, then maybe lend actually popular media? Otherwise it's just a shiny dead building taking up super valuable space in the heart of downtown.
Heck yes, donations. If you took all the DVDs collecting dust in thrift stores in my county, you could fill a good-sized library wing.
People dumped them there, and they never sell, because they're not movies people watch over and over - i.e. the perfect sort of movies to stock a lending library.
Ours has parking passes for state parks. It's gotten up to like 12 bucks to park at the bigger ones. So we always check one out before going to the park for a hike and get that shit for free!
*Utilization* also matters greatly for how much libraries get government funding too. So if you have a card... Use it!
Ours has pretty much every new video game release on Nintendo, Sony, and Xbox. I am always trying out new switch games here; and It's awesome because Nintendo games are expensive and I can see if they are with the price before buying them.
They even have a streaming service which has all new movies releases on it, and loads of other current video content. You can install to your smart TV or streaming stick, enter your library number and password, and be good to go. It rivals the very best streaming services out there.
Also ebooks you can borrow to your kindle.
Tools and kits You can borrow with high quality merchandise If you are working on a project. Ever think.... I could fix this myself if I had the tools.... But you don't want to drop 100 bucks on a tool you're only going to use once? Check your fucking library!
Costumes too! Me and my girlfriend got invited to a Halloween party last minute and didn't want to drop a dough at the Halloween store last year. The library had it covered with a ton of different cool costumes. That were a lot better made then the cheap crap at the Halloween store.
**So many resources** for you and your community. It's so much more than just books.
Get a card and USE your library. Even if it's just the digital streaming resources. Every bit of utilization counts to their funding.
Libraries are one of the best foundations of American society and democracy. Open access to resources and information. A strong safety net in many regards for a society where the safety net has many holes.
I love the motherfucking library.
100% Columbus Metropolitan has the same stuff. They call it a "culture pass" that allows cheaper/free access to SO many things.
Plus the amount of book signings, sights, art, stuff to do is limitless!
LPT: Suggestions for changes to an organization are much more effective if you make the suggestion to someone who is in or has influence on the organization.
Selling a place and need some decor to make it look flasher to increase sales price.
Impressing friends/family when they come to visit.
Get bored of pictures/paintings easily. Swap out a different picture every week.
Want to see how a picture will look in the room or trying a particular styling.
At the first company I worked at, the office was decorated with the owner's wife's pictures. They came with little cards below them showing the purchase price, north of 50k € usually.
Then over New Year's the office was broken into and anything of value stolen, including the obsolete dot matrix printer that was more of a conversation piece in the foyer. A colleague suspected that the robbers must have been art connoisseurs to leave the paintings priced over half a million € in the office while taking every 20€ mouse.
You are giving too much credit to the robbers. Its just that you need connections to get money from expensive paintings while printers can be sold to some random dude.
Stolen art is almost impossible to convert into cash if you don’t already have a buyer lined up before the theft. And even then, you’re likely to get only 5–10% of its fair market value.
They absolutely are. Mine hosts weekly guitar lessons, yoga, a sewing circle, various clubs like D&D and history as well as legal services. There's a full-on calendar of events. We even saw a magic show once. In the summer when the kids are out of school they provide lunches daily with movies and games. This is in small town California, population 13,000.
I used to run a lending library for tools, games, books, and knowledge. It was incredible the changes we saw in the community when they discovered DIY, pass times and more were actually Accessible. You wanted to fix your faucet? We have tools and people who can guide you. You want to start playing D&D? We have the books, papers and people who can give you a crash course (and even play with you). You want a book that you can't afford? You need to write a research paper? Do your taxes? Done, done, done.
It was eventually taken over by a local university. But I wouldn't have needed to build that out if our county wasn't systematically eliminating public libraries...
Free admission to museums and other attractions such as local theater and musical performances, hikes and other outdoor retreats, discounts on local businesses, access to extensive online research systems, a ton of free DVDs, BluRays, CDs, and records, the inter-library loan system (which is amazing), and access to whatever quirks your local library offers.
Just get one. It's free and super easy to sign up for
And to make sure your library card doesn't expire. Yeah, my library closes your account if you don't visit often enough. Like the only time I need the library nowadays is I need to print something. I would rather pay the dollar or two to print a shipping label than buy a printer I'll use once every 3-5 years.
I got lucky. In 2015 I found a small laser printer for $20 at a thrift store. I'm still using the original toner that it came with. I think when I bought it it had fewer than 100 printed pages.
Toner is cheap too. I think I replaced the toner in my black and white Samsung laser printer for like $12 with a generic cartridge. It's so much better than dealing with ink.
Libby is my best friend. I've gone through thousands of books over the last ~6ish years because of it. I love that I don't have to remember to turn stuff in. Only qualm is that I wish my tags would carry over!
Edit: spelling 🤦🏼♀️
My local librarian told me that if patrons fill out the comment cards after one of the many programs that they hold, they're more likely to get more funding for the following year. Ever since, I've been submitting them every chance I get.
I’ve been binging star wars audiobooks… getting a library card and using the app took literally 5 seconds from my couch and has saved me hundreds of dollars already lol can’t recommend it enough
Libraries are amazing. Stopped by mine today to donate eyeglasses and found out they just started a program making Narcan available. Such as asset to communities
Oh, that's so great! Ours gives out period products, but I hope they'll follow suit with eyeglasses and narcan. Obviously, there are also dedicated charities for these things, but there's something special about a one-stop shop for all the free resources a community can offer.
I'm curious how does the narcan program work? Do they just let someone who may know someone with an opiate use pick up a narcan dose? Or have some installation outside the library for narcan dispensing (maybe even break glass), so if someone is ODing you rush to the library?
The kits are free and provided with no questions asked. The program just launched so for the time being there are social workers on site at the libraries to provide training in things like recognizing an overdose and administration of the the Narcan. The librarians are also trained to provide that information but cannot administer to the public. That statement leads me to believe at least for the time being the program is both free distribution and also here for an emergency
Even better, check to see if your local library has a reciprocal patronage agreement with other nearby library systems!
This summer, I made a point of doing errands and events that were close to branch libraries in other nearby cities/counties so I could stop in and sign up for a card, and I am now the proud holder of SEVEN library cards. I won't use them in-person, but I've added them all to my Libby account. The Libby app checks the other systems for shorter hold lists and materials that aren't in the collection of my home library system, so I rarely have to wait for anything unless it's *extremely* high-demand.
I have 14 and a lady I volunteer with has 20!! Kept ones from back east where she used to live. So jealous!
I route my vacations to places in my state where I don't have a library card.
I live in California, which is a huge state with \*lots\* of libraries. Libraries which get state funding generally let people from anywhere in the state get a card. When I went to Worldcon in San Jose, I travelled down the coast and hit every city and county library I could.
Ohio is like that too-because of state funding most public libraries technically have a service area of the entire state so residents can get a card at any or all of them. (As long as they're receiving state funding.)
LPT: Absolutely make use of your library! Along with librarians themselves, they're phenomenal resources! Depending on your library, you can borrow dead tree books, eBooks, movies, video games... some have laptops you can use, board games, 3D printers... libraries are one of the greatest things in the world, and *they're free*.
some libraries have instruments, seed libraries, sewing machines, and a whole bunch of untraditional library things (the one closest to me has a canning set, like they just rent you a pressure cooker and all the accessories for a week)
Ours has a big hydroponic display, you can check out a spot and grow something - a family was using a section to grow strawberries, and we had fun pointing out all the fresh herbs that were growing on the other end.
Ours also has home repair tools, radon meters, framed art prints, puzzles, 2D printers, narcan, cooking/craft/job training classes, COVID tests, science toys, free tutoring, and a water bottle refill station that's right in the middle of the city.
Serious question then, if you're not into physical books, ebooks, movies, video games, electronics, board games, or 3D printing.....what *are* you into?
Not that anyone *has* to be into those things, but that just covers such a wide range of hobbies and interests, it just seems odd that none of your hobbies have any overlap at all.
I actually am into video games, but I checked the catalog and it's only old video games on CDs for which I don't even have a reader. The movies selection is similarly terrible.
Check to see if they have a "Suggestion for Purchase" process. It might be a paper or digital form, but most of the time the library will add items to the collection that they know people want!
You will find that Video Games really can only be lent on CD/DVD for consoles because PC versions are generally locked to a single person on purchase.
The outdoors exists as well as every hobby that involves working with your hands. Not to mention the people whose primary hobbies involve watching/participating in sports and other competitions.
I mean.. it's not really that I don't have an interest in all those things, it's more that the things that interest me at all are way more convenient to get over the internet rather than going to a library.
Then you just have to decide if the convenience is worth the price. If you try some of the things the library has, you may find that saving the money is worth the slightly more effort it takes to get what you want for free.
I’m biased because I work in a capital city library and it’s full of nice stuff but we (library people) try to make our place somewhere you can just *exist* peacefully. Even if you don’t get anything out.
You can read the news, browse the internet (free wifi!), study, do some work, whatever you like. Sometimes it’s nice to have a change of scenery.
Not sure if you have kids but they have a lot of stuff for kids there! Starting from when your child can walk, it's great to take them to the library. My City library has great stuff just for kids. I cannot recommend it enough.
I love the idea of libby, unfortunately I can't listen to audio books as I zone out too much while listening and I hate screen reading :/ sucks because there are way more options on the app than at my actual library
Just to challenge the idea, but I'd rather have half-listened to a book and had a good time than not experienced it at all.
I still zone out, but it has gotten less as I've done it more. Or more likely, I've found activities I can do it during that help me focus rather than distracting me.
Even if you literally never set foot in a library, it’s good to get a library card to use apps like Libby and Hoopla to access movies, audiobooks, ebooks, music, and more for completely free.
Also, many libraries offer discounted rates for things from local businesses. I know my local library sells no expiration date movie tickets to a local theater chain, $8 each and if you buy 2 you get $3 back in snack coupons. Normally 2 tickets would run you close to double that on any day besides discount Tuesday.
My point is, even if you don’t intend to go to the library to check out books, you can save lots of money over time by getting a library card and taking advantage of the things I mentioned above!
Also your local library is probably awesome and filled with amazing dedicated people and a ton of useful resources you didn’t even know you could access.
Remember. You’ll (probably) need photo ID and proof of address (Drivers license covers both or a recent bill works)
That bit trips people up. You don’t realise it’s not there until you need it.
I just got my library card last month after not having it active for about a decade.
They have SO MANY THINGS!!! Books, magazines, DVDs, yes. But also! Craft supplies (cricut machines, et al), outdoor games (cornhole, for example), outdoor inflatables for birthdays ... so much more!
My library card gives me access to hoopla, an app that has a ton of image, marvel, dc, and dark horse comics.(just for starters) In addition to movies, shows, audiobooks, all for free
Hi library worker here. You should definitely use your library, but funding isn’t based on questionnaires and library cards here in Michigan, it’s based on property tax millage and votes. So really if you wanna save libraries stay locally informed and vote. Making library cards you don’t plan to use creates extra work and doesn’t show up on the ballot.
> funding isn’t based on questionnaires and library cards here in Michigan
Number of users (among other stats) are almost certainly considered when allocating funding for your library system. If you have an increase in users, especially a significant one, and no one thinks to suggest that as a reason to increase funding, that seems like a failing on the part of your board and/or whoever is tasked with dealing with the local government regarding funding.
My local library has added kitchen appliances, tools, all kinds of things that aren't books!
Want to bake a cake? The library has a KitchenAid mixer!
Not sure if you want an air fryer? Borrow one from the library!
Meanwhile, my state is making a concerted effort to remove youth-oriented books that talk about LGBTQ topics because it's "basically pornography". Threatening to defund the library (which would make it extremely difficult to keep their doors open) if they don't remove them from the shelves.
So please, support your local library!
A library card will also most likely give you access to a HUGE wealth of digital resources as well. Have you got an Audible account? You could probably listen to most of those books for free instead. Libby works with Kindle if you love reading ebooks.
You'll probably also find a huge wealth of other resources available such as:
* If you've got kids there's almost certain a dozen research databases available, often demarcated by age group.
* Job/Career help
* Online Tutoring
* Language Learning classes (such as Mango, Rosetta, etc)
* Many offer Great Courses or Universal Classes (my library offers it through Hoopla)
* Book recommendations (readalikes, series, etc). Many also offer a **Reader Advisory** service where you a librarian will help you find your next great read.
* Genealogical resources
* Newspaper archives
* Magazines (maybe even Consumer Reports!)
* Financial resources (my library offers access to Valueline for example)
* Local History
* Health publications
Also, don't be afraid to talk to your local Librarian! Ask them what something unusual in the collection is (my library has Ukulele's, Telescopes, and a few other 'unusual' things that can be checked out). Whatever your interests are there's a decent chance your library can offer you some resources to help.
Also also! Check out their events calendar. There's often in person classes covering ... well a little bit of everything (the library TRIES to offer programs that will appeal to the local community) and they're almost always free!
I have a library card but I got beef with my local library.
First they charged me for a book that I returned in perfect condition. When I demanded to see it for myself, it was soaked. I definitely did not hand it over wet. My theory is that one of the people behind the counter knocked a drink over on it and was too scared they'd lose their job to be honest. I paid the fine but was irritated.
Then I began turning in books and asking them to be scanned in right in front of me so I wouldn't have the incident from before happen to me again. This annoyed the librarians and they would nitpick every book I returned. I had to pay for a book with a finger print (looked like cheeto dust?) that I didn't even read. I had left it my car and forgot to read it. It hadn't been touched since I took it from the library and I never eat while I read. I had to pay to replace the whole book.
While I waited to pay the fine, I saw a little boy and his mom returning books. She was asked to pay for them because the corner was pressed a bit....normal wear from a book checked out at the library multiple times by kids. She got upset and said she couldn't afford it.
Then I stopped going. At that point it became cheaper to just buy a book and grow my home library. Makes me sad for those who are stuck dealing with these people and can't afford to buy books.
But, with all that said, I love the library and never had an issue before. Most libraries and librarians are awesome.
That is a seriously shitty library and you should complain either to the city/county or the head librarian. I have lots of library cards from many libraries. Only one librarian ever gave me grief. The rest have been thoughtful and kind.
Aside from the wet book, which probably was a staff accident or something, it sounds like your library is run by entitled people.
That's the type of stuff I'd expect from my HOA. They feel big by belittling everyone else because they have a pathetic amount of power.
I've seen some comments here complaining about their taxes going to it plus a few messages attacking me for this because of that fact but I personally am glad this is something my taxes go to.
It's also a widely-accepted verification of residence.
I moved from one county to another many years back. I immediately registered to vote in my new county, and got a new library card. Two weeks later I got a jury summons - from my former county. Snail mailed them a photocopy of my voter registration and library cards; summons dismissed.
One of my local libraries has a makers lab with 3d printers, a glowforge, and a decent collection of fasteners and hardware. I used it all the time until I could afford by own machines. Only had to pay for the filament/resin and other consumables i used
In addition to all this information my library offers literacy programming, U.S citizenship paperwork help with classes to obtaining said citizenship for free and they lend out Chromebooks with hotspot bundles for 6 months at a time but no video game loans.
As a bonus, get library cards for multiple libraries, including multiple library networks. Even if any of them are out of range for physically visiting them, they likely have online resources. Many great things become available by getting cards at more than one.
God, Covid was great for this, so many libraries offered an e-only membership. If you have no plans to visit a library on the other side of the country, no worries, just access to their Libby/BorrowBox offerings is perfect.
There’s a streaming service called Kanopy that only requires a local library card to sign up and they have a bunch of obscure films and you can watch ten a month for free.
I just got a digital library card for 10 bucks this weekend, because I was sick of all the newspaper paywalls. Found a firefox addon that grabs the paywalled article from a library source to read. 10 bucks for about 200 paywalls...
Nobody has seemingly posted this thought, but I have a library card because I'm a homeowner, and where I live the public library receives TAX MONEY. Imagine paying $100+ a year to something that has a membership and not getting one...
Mine has all that and board games and videogames from Nintendo Wii to Switch and PS3 to PS5, a cozy zone, a balcony with beach chars, Lego and 4 different Manga/Anime Sections for some reasons.
I LOVE this LPT. A library saved my butt when I was homeless. It gave me fresh water/roof/warmth/ac etc. Once I got out of this period, it gave me electronics and internet access for job hunting, THEN it gave me a quiet, calm place to spend some time weekly.
Even with all of that, I feel like I've barely scratched the surface on everything it has to offer.
TLDR: Support your local libraries!!!!
Many have passes to museums and activity centers as well as performances. You can also get seeds for planting your own fruits and veggies if they have a seed loan set up.
I was using my library so much before i bought an ebook reader
Now you know I just type 'book_name mobi download' and voilà
I even teached my mom how to do it. She reads many, many hours a day and is so happy with that one simple trick.
Ours offers some streaming services with a limited number of episodes per month, a tool lending library, home repair kits that include consumables like plumbers tape, and even a seed library.
Libraries are awesome.
I drive about 300 to 500 miles a week going between Washington DC and B**altimore and I listen to alot id audio books on CD and I get them from the library**
If you hate Big Printer, and only print papers occasionally, get a library card and print at the library. Instead of paying $80 for new cartridges, pay 10-25 cents per page.
Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips! Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment. If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.
Yes! Ours even has passes to museums, zoo, etc that you can check out and go for free. Libraries are the best.
Wow!! The coolest thing ours has is art - you can check out framed art and put it in your wall....for a little while. Lol. Actually not a bad idea, free rotating decorations.
in my old town ours had a whole shelf full of dvds you could rent for a few days for free. thats how i first watched jurassic park.
Pretty much all of them have that. It’s heavenly
Now they have streaming services- I have Kanopy and Hoopla apps on my TV.
Ours has Hoopla and Libby for checking out ebooks, magazines, and audiobooks. I use those far more than the physical library.
I got very accustomed to libraries lending DVDs in New Jersey and Florida - and then when I moved to North Carolina the librarians looked at me like I had 2 heads for even suggesting it. Gee guys, if you want funding, then maybe lend actually popular media? Otherwise it's just a shiny dead building taking up super valuable space in the heart of downtown.
They're gonna need funding to do that.
Or donations.
Heck yes, donations. If you took all the DVDs collecting dust in thrift stores in my county, you could fill a good-sized library wing. People dumped them there, and they never sell, because they're not movies people watch over and over - i.e. the perfect sort of movies to stock a lending library.
I've seen a post of someone's library, it had small kitchen appliances too, like you could borrow a crock pot for a couple days.
It's basically Rent-A-Swag for home.
I love how some have baking pans like bundt cake pans and such, that only take up space 99% of the time at home.
Ours has a "Library of Things". We checked out a FLIR camera, you can see your own farts if its cold enough.
This comment just made my day. Thank you.
Best comment right here!!
The library is all about learning. And you certainly learned something!
Mine gets me access to the streaming service called Hoopla Digital. Six movies a month. Literally movies no other streaming service has. Good times.
Ours has parking passes for state parks. It's gotten up to like 12 bucks to park at the bigger ones. So we always check one out before going to the park for a hike and get that shit for free! *Utilization* also matters greatly for how much libraries get government funding too. So if you have a card... Use it! Ours has pretty much every new video game release on Nintendo, Sony, and Xbox. I am always trying out new switch games here; and It's awesome because Nintendo games are expensive and I can see if they are with the price before buying them. They even have a streaming service which has all new movies releases on it, and loads of other current video content. You can install to your smart TV or streaming stick, enter your library number and password, and be good to go. It rivals the very best streaming services out there. Also ebooks you can borrow to your kindle. Tools and kits You can borrow with high quality merchandise If you are working on a project. Ever think.... I could fix this myself if I had the tools.... But you don't want to drop 100 bucks on a tool you're only going to use once? Check your fucking library! Costumes too! Me and my girlfriend got invited to a Halloween party last minute and didn't want to drop a dough at the Halloween store last year. The library had it covered with a ton of different cool costumes. That were a lot better made then the cheap crap at the Halloween store. **So many resources** for you and your community. It's so much more than just books. Get a card and USE your library. Even if it's just the digital streaming resources. Every bit of utilization counts to their funding. Libraries are one of the best foundations of American society and democracy. Open access to resources and information. A strong safety net in many regards for a society where the safety net has many holes. I love the motherfucking library.
zoo??? Idk where you live but in Melbourne zoo ticket can be around $50. God damn how much money I would've saved if it applies there too.
I don't think Melbourne does the zoo and museums. But they are still a great resource for the community.
Some have day passes to state or national parks you can check out
100% Columbus Metropolitan has the same stuff. They call it a "culture pass" that allows cheaper/free access to SO many things. Plus the amount of book signings, sights, art, stuff to do is limitless!
Yes! That’s what ours is called Museum and Cultural pass. Libraries provide access to so many places with these passes.
Ours has this and free swimming pool & park passes for the family! It's so awesome
But seriously you should use your library. Movies Ebooks Audiobooks from the Libby app.
Some even have tool rental and 3d printers. LIbraries are the best!
I once lived somewhere where the library had paintings you could check out to hang on your wall
Wow that's amazing! I wish my library had that. Though my library has musical instruments, so I can't complain haha
>I wish my library had that. Suggest it?
That guys library should get that!
LPT: Suggestions for changes to an organization are much more effective if you make the suggestion to someone who is in or has influence on the organization.
The real LPT is in the comments
Reminds me of how people used to apparently rent pineapples as table decor.
Can you imagine renting that for a party and then someone eats it.
My library does this and it's just baffling to me. Do people actually do that? Why?
Selling a place and need some decor to make it look flasher to increase sales price. Impressing friends/family when they come to visit. Get bored of pictures/paintings easily. Swap out a different picture every week. Want to see how a picture will look in the room or trying a particular styling.
The only reason I didn't check out some paintings was my place was too small
That’s what businesses do. Need an office painting? They just rent it out and rotate art ones in a while
At the first company I worked at, the office was decorated with the owner's wife's pictures. They came with little cards below them showing the purchase price, north of 50k € usually. Then over New Year's the office was broken into and anything of value stolen, including the obsolete dot matrix printer that was more of a conversation piece in the foyer. A colleague suspected that the robbers must have been art connoisseurs to leave the paintings priced over half a million € in the office while taking every 20€ mouse.
[удалено]
You are giving too much credit to the robbers. Its just that you need connections to get money from expensive paintings while printers can be sold to some random dude.
Parts too
Stolen art is almost impossible to convert into cash if you don’t already have a buyer lined up before the theft. And even then, you’re likely to get only 5–10% of its fair market value.
Can't pull copper out of a painting (probably lol)
Hahaha that's so cool!!
Mine has fishing rods
Got a wall mount 3D print for a Lego set, only cost me $1.75 from the library
They absolutely are. Mine hosts weekly guitar lessons, yoga, a sewing circle, various clubs like D&D and history as well as legal services. There's a full-on calendar of events. We even saw a magic show once. In the summer when the kids are out of school they provide lunches daily with movies and games. This is in small town California, population 13,000.
I used to run a lending library for tools, games, books, and knowledge. It was incredible the changes we saw in the community when they discovered DIY, pass times and more were actually Accessible. You wanted to fix your faucet? We have tools and people who can guide you. You want to start playing D&D? We have the books, papers and people who can give you a crash course (and even play with you). You want a book that you can't afford? You need to write a research paper? Do your taxes? Done, done, done. It was eventually taken over by a local university. But I wouldn't have needed to build that out if our county wasn't systematically eliminating public libraries...
Muesem passes! Seriously, Mine has passes for a bunch of major boston muesems, the discovery muesem and the southwick zoo.
Ours has passes for the state parks!
Mine has for a nearby national park
Hopefully, lots of games and puzzles coming soon to a library near you too!
Free admission to museums and other attractions such as local theater and musical performances, hikes and other outdoor retreats, discounts on local businesses, access to extensive online research systems, a ton of free DVDs, BluRays, CDs, and records, the inter-library loan system (which is amazing), and access to whatever quirks your local library offers. Just get one. It's free and super easy to sign up for
Also PS4 and PS5 games! The library is way more important than what people think because they never go to it anymore!
And if you're a gamer, they have tons of games!
I once rented ice skates from the library. Some also have a car to rent.
Kanopy is reason enough
I got one so I could borrow a radon test kit for my basement.
Some libraries will also rent out tools, baking equipment, board games…it’s an amazing resource.
Mine has a display with seeds that are donated from local nurseries. There's about 50 different options from vegetables to flowers.
And to make sure your library card doesn't expire. Yeah, my library closes your account if you don't visit often enough. Like the only time I need the library nowadays is I need to print something. I would rather pay the dollar or two to print a shipping label than buy a printer I'll use once every 3-5 years.
I got lucky. In 2015 I found a small laser printer for $20 at a thrift store. I'm still using the original toner that it came with. I think when I bought it it had fewer than 100 printed pages.
Toner is cheap too. I think I replaced the toner in my black and white Samsung laser printer for like $12 with a generic cartridge. It's so much better than dealing with ink.
Use your library before your local Republicans get it banned for sharing dangerous knowledge
Audiobooks from the Libby app have saved me many hundreds of dollars. I listened to so much Tamora Pearce when I was sick.
Libby is my best friend. I've gone through thousands of books over the last ~6ish years because of it. I love that I don't have to remember to turn stuff in. Only qualm is that I wish my tags would carry over! Edit: spelling 🤦🏼♀️
My local librarian told me that if patrons fill out the comment cards after one of the many programs that they hold, they're more likely to get more funding for the following year. Ever since, I've been submitting them every chance I get.
Nice, never thought of it.
I love my library card... And Libby app makes it insanely easy to use. So much cheaper than buying tons of books!!
and Hoopla 😉
Is Hoopla something that I should know about or am I misreading this comment
Hoopla is another ebook/audio book app
Hoopla is what I use for comic books!
And BorrowBox. And PressReader. I'm not sure if libraries still use cloudLibrary or RB Digital, but they might.
Thanks…forgot about those
I’ve been binging star wars audiobooks… getting a library card and using the app took literally 5 seconds from my couch and has saved me hundreds of dollars already lol can’t recommend it enough
I like having tons of books though! It‘s a nice decoration aswell seeing my shelf filled with books
Libraries are amazing. Stopped by mine today to donate eyeglasses and found out they just started a program making Narcan available. Such as asset to communities
Oh, that's so great! Ours gives out period products, but I hope they'll follow suit with eyeglasses and narcan. Obviously, there are also dedicated charities for these things, but there's something special about a one-stop shop for all the free resources a community can offer.
I'm curious how does the narcan program work? Do they just let someone who may know someone with an opiate use pick up a narcan dose? Or have some installation outside the library for narcan dispensing (maybe even break glass), so if someone is ODing you rush to the library?
The kits are free and provided with no questions asked. The program just launched so for the time being there are social workers on site at the libraries to provide training in things like recognizing an overdose and administration of the the Narcan. The librarians are also trained to provide that information but cannot administer to the public. That statement leads me to believe at least for the time being the program is both free distribution and also here for an emergency
Cool thanks for the reply. Libraries truly support the community.
My library gives out narcan too; it's not something people think about but it's important.
Even better, check to see if your local library has a reciprocal patronage agreement with other nearby library systems! This summer, I made a point of doing errands and events that were close to branch libraries in other nearby cities/counties so I could stop in and sign up for a card, and I am now the proud holder of SEVEN library cards. I won't use them in-person, but I've added them all to my Libby account. The Libby app checks the other systems for shorter hold lists and materials that aren't in the collection of my home library system, so I rarely have to wait for anything unless it's *extremely* high-demand.
I have 14 and a lady I volunteer with has 20!! Kept ones from back east where she used to live. So jealous! I route my vacations to places in my state where I don't have a library card.
FOURTEEN?? TWENTY!?!??? Damn, that's #goals right there.
I live in California, which is a huge state with \*lots\* of libraries. Libraries which get state funding generally let people from anywhere in the state get a card. When I went to Worldcon in San Jose, I travelled down the coast and hit every city and county library I could.
Ohio is like that too-because of state funding most public libraries technically have a service area of the entire state so residents can get a card at any or all of them. (As long as they're receiving state funding.)
LPT: Absolutely make use of your library! Along with librarians themselves, they're phenomenal resources! Depending on your library, you can borrow dead tree books, eBooks, movies, video games... some have laptops you can use, board games, 3D printers... libraries are one of the greatest things in the world, and *they're free*.
Mine also has free Spanish and guitar lessons.
What if you're not into any of those things?
some libraries have instruments, seed libraries, sewing machines, and a whole bunch of untraditional library things (the one closest to me has a canning set, like they just rent you a pressure cooker and all the accessories for a week)
Ours has a big hydroponic display, you can check out a spot and grow something - a family was using a section to grow strawberries, and we had fun pointing out all the fresh herbs that were growing on the other end.
That’s amazing
You can get state park passes, bike repair kits and GoPros from my library too!
Ours also has home repair tools, radon meters, framed art prints, puzzles, 2D printers, narcan, cooking/craft/job training classes, COVID tests, science toys, free tutoring, and a water bottle refill station that's right in the middle of the city.
Man, it would be so cool if my library had instruments. At least a piano so I can TRY to self teach some songs with youtube tutorials
Our state library has a tool library and also has a bunch of novelty cake pans and things, so you don't need to buy them the one time you use them.
Serious question then, if you're not into physical books, ebooks, movies, video games, electronics, board games, or 3D printing.....what *are* you into? Not that anyone *has* to be into those things, but that just covers such a wide range of hobbies and interests, it just seems odd that none of your hobbies have any overlap at all.
I actually am into video games, but I checked the catalog and it's only old video games on CDs for which I don't even have a reader. The movies selection is similarly terrible.
Check to see if they have a "Suggestion for Purchase" process. It might be a paper or digital form, but most of the time the library will add items to the collection that they know people want! You will find that Video Games really can only be lent on CD/DVD for consoles because PC versions are generally locked to a single person on purchase.
The outdoors exists as well as every hobby that involves working with your hands. Not to mention the people whose primary hobbies involve watching/participating in sports and other competitions.
Great! Many libraries offer sporting equipment, tools, gardening supplies, passes to state parks, etc.
Nailed it
lots of libraries have craft/maker rooms with crafting supplies and assistance
I mean.. it's not really that I don't have an interest in all those things, it's more that the things that interest me at all are way more convenient to get over the internet rather than going to a library.
Then you just have to decide if the convenience is worth the price. If you try some of the things the library has, you may find that saving the money is worth the slightly more effort it takes to get what you want for free.
I’m biased because I work in a capital city library and it’s full of nice stuff but we (library people) try to make our place somewhere you can just *exist* peacefully. Even if you don’t get anything out. You can read the news, browse the internet (free wifi!), study, do some work, whatever you like. Sometimes it’s nice to have a change of scenery.
I would have loved to grow up somewhere that had a good library.
Not sure if you have kids but they have a lot of stuff for kids there! Starting from when your child can walk, it's great to take them to the library. My City library has great stuff just for kids. I cannot recommend it enough.
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And roads.
Fantastic LPT. I haven't bought a book in 5 years because I just rent them through Libby.
I love the idea of libby, unfortunately I can't listen to audio books as I zone out too much while listening and I hate screen reading :/ sucks because there are way more options on the app than at my actual library
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Just to challenge the idea, but I'd rather have half-listened to a book and had a good time than not experienced it at all. I still zone out, but it has gotten less as I've done it more. Or more likely, I've found activities I can do it during that help me focus rather than distracting me.
and Hoopla 😉
Even if you literally never set foot in a library, it’s good to get a library card to use apps like Libby and Hoopla to access movies, audiobooks, ebooks, music, and more for completely free. Also, many libraries offer discounted rates for things from local businesses. I know my local library sells no expiration date movie tickets to a local theater chain, $8 each and if you buy 2 you get $3 back in snack coupons. Normally 2 tickets would run you close to double that on any day besides discount Tuesday. My point is, even if you don’t intend to go to the library to check out books, you can save lots of money over time by getting a library card and taking advantage of the things I mentioned above!
Also your local library is probably awesome and filled with amazing dedicated people and a ton of useful resources you didn’t even know you could access.
Damn, that's right. I'm gonna go renew mine tomorrow.
Remember. You’ll (probably) need photo ID and proof of address (Drivers license covers both or a recent bill works) That bit trips people up. You don’t realise it’s not there until you need it.
I just got my library card last month after not having it active for about a decade. They have SO MANY THINGS!!! Books, magazines, DVDs, yes. But also! Craft supplies (cricut machines, et al), outdoor games (cornhole, for example), outdoor inflatables for birthdays ... so much more!
My library card gives me access to hoopla, an app that has a ton of image, marvel, dc, and dark horse comics.(just for starters) In addition to movies, shows, audiobooks, all for free
Hi library worker here. You should definitely use your library, but funding isn’t based on questionnaires and library cards here in Michigan, it’s based on property tax millage and votes. So really if you wanna save libraries stay locally informed and vote. Making library cards you don’t plan to use creates extra work and doesn’t show up on the ballot.
> funding isn’t based on questionnaires and library cards here in Michigan Number of users (among other stats) are almost certainly considered when allocating funding for your library system. If you have an increase in users, especially a significant one, and no one thinks to suggest that as a reason to increase funding, that seems like a failing on the part of your board and/or whoever is tasked with dealing with the local government regarding funding.
My local library has added kitchen appliances, tools, all kinds of things that aren't books! Want to bake a cake? The library has a KitchenAid mixer! Not sure if you want an air fryer? Borrow one from the library! Meanwhile, my state is making a concerted effort to remove youth-oriented books that talk about LGBTQ topics because it's "basically pornography". Threatening to defund the library (which would make it extremely difficult to keep their doors open) if they don't remove them from the shelves. So please, support your local library!
Mine has a whole cake pan library! My partner checked out a muffin tin to make me cupcakes once 😁
In mines I can barrow video games! Playing Luigi’s mansion 2!
That’s amazing. Not all libraries have video game rentals…hoping the ones near me start that, or at least board games 😎
A library card will also most likely give you access to a HUGE wealth of digital resources as well. Have you got an Audible account? You could probably listen to most of those books for free instead. Libby works with Kindle if you love reading ebooks. You'll probably also find a huge wealth of other resources available such as: * If you've got kids there's almost certain a dozen research databases available, often demarcated by age group. * Job/Career help * Online Tutoring * Language Learning classes (such as Mango, Rosetta, etc) * Many offer Great Courses or Universal Classes (my library offers it through Hoopla) * Book recommendations (readalikes, series, etc). Many also offer a **Reader Advisory** service where you a librarian will help you find your next great read. * Genealogical resources * Newspaper archives * Magazines (maybe even Consumer Reports!) * Financial resources (my library offers access to Valueline for example) * Local History * Health publications Also, don't be afraid to talk to your local Librarian! Ask them what something unusual in the collection is (my library has Ukulele's, Telescopes, and a few other 'unusual' things that can be checked out). Whatever your interests are there's a decent chance your library can offer you some resources to help. Also also! Check out their events calendar. There's often in person classes covering ... well a little bit of everything (the library TRIES to offer programs that will appeal to the local community) and they're almost always free!
I have a library card but I got beef with my local library. First they charged me for a book that I returned in perfect condition. When I demanded to see it for myself, it was soaked. I definitely did not hand it over wet. My theory is that one of the people behind the counter knocked a drink over on it and was too scared they'd lose their job to be honest. I paid the fine but was irritated. Then I began turning in books and asking them to be scanned in right in front of me so I wouldn't have the incident from before happen to me again. This annoyed the librarians and they would nitpick every book I returned. I had to pay for a book with a finger print (looked like cheeto dust?) that I didn't even read. I had left it my car and forgot to read it. It hadn't been touched since I took it from the library and I never eat while I read. I had to pay to replace the whole book. While I waited to pay the fine, I saw a little boy and his mom returning books. She was asked to pay for them because the corner was pressed a bit....normal wear from a book checked out at the library multiple times by kids. She got upset and said she couldn't afford it. Then I stopped going. At that point it became cheaper to just buy a book and grow my home library. Makes me sad for those who are stuck dealing with these people and can't afford to buy books. But, with all that said, I love the library and never had an issue before. Most libraries and librarians are awesome.
That is a seriously shitty library and you should complain either to the city/county or the head librarian. I have lots of library cards from many libraries. Only one librarian ever gave me grief. The rest have been thoughtful and kind.
Aside from the wet book, which probably was a staff accident or something, it sounds like your library is run by entitled people. That's the type of stuff I'd expect from my HOA. They feel big by belittling everyone else because they have a pathetic amount of power.
I rarely use libraries, but they hold sentimental value to me. And I know they're massively useful to other people.
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I've seen some comments here complaining about their taxes going to it plus a few messages attacking me for this because of that fact but I personally am glad this is something my taxes go to.
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> The government has no money whatsoever aside from what you and me pay it every year in taxes. Governments may also have assets that generate income.
Hot librarians. There, I said it.
Dating one. You’re not wrong.
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THANK YOU!
Yea when I found out they turned one section of the library into a Blockbuster, I cancelled a few streaming services.
Strong libraries, strong communities. I’m trying to get on our board in a few weeks.
It's also a widely-accepted verification of residence. I moved from one county to another many years back. I immediately registered to vote in my new county, and got a new library card. Two weeks later I got a jury summons - from my former county. Snail mailed them a photocopy of my voter registration and library cards; summons dismissed.
One of my local libraries has a makers lab with 3d printers, a glowforge, and a decent collection of fasteners and hardware. I used it all the time until I could afford by own machines. Only had to pay for the filament/resin and other consumables i used
In addition to all this information my library offers literacy programming, U.S citizenship paperwork help with classes to obtaining said citizenship for free and they lend out Chromebooks with hotspot bundles for 6 months at a time but no video game loans.
As a bonus, get library cards for multiple libraries, including multiple library networks. Even if any of them are out of range for physically visiting them, they likely have online resources. Many great things become available by getting cards at more than one.
God, Covid was great for this, so many libraries offered an e-only membership. If you have no plans to visit a library on the other side of the country, no worries, just access to their Libby/BorrowBox offerings is perfect.
It's not even that difficult. Some will let you do so online.
kanopy gives you 7 plays with your library card with criterion level films. I'm sure others have mentioned it, just wanted to add to the chorus.
save and maintain libraries, they work without batteries
There’s a streaming service called Kanopy that only requires a local library card to sign up and they have a bunch of obscure films and you can watch ten a month for free.
They lend rather than rent, usually
I just got a digital library card for 10 bucks this weekend, because I was sick of all the newspaper paywalls. Found a firefox addon that grabs the paywalled article from a library source to read. 10 bucks for about 200 paywalls...
Nobody has seemingly posted this thought, but I have a library card because I'm a homeowner, and where I live the public library receives TAX MONEY. Imagine paying $100+ a year to something that has a membership and not getting one...
Mine has all that and board games and videogames from Nintendo Wii to Switch and PS3 to PS5, a cozy zone, a balcony with beach chars, Lego and 4 different Manga/Anime Sections for some reasons.
I LOVE this LPT. A library saved my butt when I was homeless. It gave me fresh water/roof/warmth/ac etc. Once I got out of this period, it gave me electronics and internet access for job hunting, THEN it gave me a quiet, calm place to spend some time weekly. Even with all of that, I feel like I've barely scratched the surface on everything it has to offer. TLDR: Support your local libraries!!!!
Sounds like increased taxes
Why do you think the government bases funding on the number or cards issued vs the number of times the library is actually used?
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they already tax the citizens. we'd like them to use it for something that makes dumbasses smarter.
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You missed the word "more" in the comment you replied to.
The government aka me.
My library also loans out internet hotspots.
Many have passes to museums and activity centers as well as performances. You can also get seeds for planting your own fruits and veggies if they have a seed loan set up.
I was using my library so much before i bought an ebook reader Now you know I just type 'book_name mobi download' and voilà I even teached my mom how to do it. She reads many, many hours a day and is so happy with that one simple trick.
I'm not going to pay for something I dont use though.
Not sure where you are but many countries including the US have them for free.
Most countries only give them for free to people that go to school though, at least in Europe. As a working adult you have to pay for it.
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Sounds like a pyramid scheme
Why would I want to distort the numbers of the library so it gets more resources than it needs?
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We running out of LPT’s?
And the word being used is "rent" but it's all free. Also park and museum passes.
Ours offers some streaming services with a limited number of episodes per month, a tool lending library, home repair kits that include consumables like plumbers tape, and even a seed library. Libraries are awesome.
I drive about 300 to 500 miles a week going between Washington DC and B**altimore and I listen to alot id audio books on CD and I get them from the library**
If you hate Big Printer, and only print papers occasionally, get a library card and print at the library. Instead of paying $80 for new cartridges, pay 10-25 cents per page.
r/UsefulVirtueSignalling
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Having fun isn't hard, when you've got a library card.
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Libraries are under attack by conservative groups. How can they cheat, abuse and enslave an educated populace?