Now that the kids are out of school, you might be looking for some inexpensive forms of entertainment to keep everyone occupied. When my kids were little, we used to hit the library once a week. It seriously saved of TONS of money over the years and it kept them reading throughout the summer, so come the new school year, their brains weren’t mush.
Lot’s of people think that the library just has books, but it has totally evolved into a free multi-media entertainment shop–only instead of shopping, everything is FREE. Here are a couple of tips to help you get the most out of your library:
- Use the “hold” service if your library has one. This is probably my favorite thing about the library. You can get an online account, search for whatever, put it on hold, then they notify you when it has come in. You go pick it up, where it is ready and waiting just for you. It helps you get exactly what you want without having to take the gamble that it might already be checked out.
- Instead of having magazine subscriptions, check them out from the library. While you can’t check out the current month’s issues, you can check out all of the back issues.
- Borrow movies. The library has pretty much every movie you can possibly want {unless you live in a super small town}–and it’s free.
- Borrow video games. Did you know that most libraries now have video games. You can even put them on hold {suggestion #1}, so your kiddos can totally try out the latest game before you buy it. Or even better, maybe you’ll never have to buy it at all.
- Books. I know this is a no-brainer, but seriously, read them at the library first. If you know you will reference them or reread them over and over, then buy.
- Digital books. Most libraries have digital books that don’t even require you ever getting in the car. So, if you have a laptop, kindle, iPad or some other device, chances are you can get some free reads by just logging onto your library’s website.
- Take advantage of educational computer games and the internet. The children’s part of the library usually has computers loaded with fun educational games. For older kids, Wi-Fi offers a little bit of surfing with some pretty strict restrictions that will keep them fairly safe.
- Music. Want to check out a CD? The library has those too. I can’t tell you how much this has saved me over the years–sometimes I end up finding out that owning the whole album just isn’t worth it.
- Newspapers. Take advantage of your local newspaper or even the Wall Street Journal while your kiddos peruse for books.
- Take advantage of programs. Most libraries have tons of free programs and classes. Younger kids can go to story time, older kids can do book clubs. My library even has a Lego club {where kids get to build massive creations} and a knitting club {for all skill levels}.
I’m telling you, the library has really diversified, and it’s totally worth your time this summer. Do you use the library? What’s your favorite part about it?
~Mavis
Lisa says
Our library offers digital music downloads for FREE. You can download 5 free songs per week or stream music 3 hours per day. You can also stream 3 movies or TV episodes per week too.
Mavis says
Seriously? That’s awesome!
judy says
And then there is the computer lab with free use of their computers with printers and scanners available. There are generally all kinds and levels of computer classes offered. Large print books. Audio books. Homebound delivery services. As a retired librarian, I thank you for bringing this amazing community resource to the attention of your readers. Too many people are still unaware of their public libraries.
Mavis says
Such an awesome service!
Mona says
Another former librarian here. I’d like to add using the ILL service to get items from other library systems. 🙂
Anne F says
We love to take road trips to Powell’s Books in Portland (aka best bookstore in the known universe.) I used to lay down some serious cash on every visit. These days, though, I take my smartphone with me and log into my public library account. When I find a book at Powell’s that “I can’t live without,” I place a library hold instead. I only buy a book at Powell’s if they’re not in my library’s collection. This has saved me TONS of money! Oh, and I usually have a nice stack of great books waiting for me when I get home. Sweet.
Mavis says
But man I still love walking into Powell’s. That store is just so cool!
Practical Parsimony says
My library does not have any R-rated movies because “a child might check it out.” Can’t they tell short people are children? Can’t they “card” them by looking at their information on the computer?
So, there go movies I would like to watch. I have checked out all the Little House on the Prairie and such, old movies before there were ratings, and movies I watched in the 1950s and through the 1970s. The decision to not carry R-rated movies is a poorly concealed move to preserve “family values.”
judy says
Censorship of that type should never be tolerated in a public library!
Mavis says
Agreed.
Linda says
Not sure where you live, but we have R rated movies at our library. And no- children can not check them out.
Lisa says
In my library tech classes we were taught that it isn’t the librarian’s (or assistant’s) job to monitor the more “adult” material, it was the parent’s job to monitor their children! It isn’t the library employee’s place to decide what a child can or can’t check out. When If a “child” is old enough to be at the library alone (and many times this means they are old enough to drive there) then they should be old enough for an R movie.
They have free access to adult novels don’t they? Self-check outs allow minors to check out a lot of things I, as a parent, wouldn’t want my children reading! My library has R rated movies, and they are accessible to anyone.
Libraries usually have databases you can access from home. You can learn a foreign language (Mango), or study for many different employment exams (Learning Express Library), often dozens of databases for free! There are also e-text books that I have used personally for homeschooling.
Mona says
I agree – even though I’ve had to deal with angry parents and protesters over Playboy being in the stacks. I can understand why some people are taken aback to see it available (kids can technically check it out) but ultimately it’s up to the parent to shape a child and a public library’s job to support freedom of speech.
Lisa says
I just got my 8 year old his own library card and they asked if he should be able to check movies out of the grown up section. Since he’s 8, loves Godzilla and I’m always with him, I said it was okay, but I could have easily only authorized him taking out movies from the kids’ section.
Linda says
I get cookbooks at the library first before buying them. That’s kept me from buying cookbooks where I only like one or two recipes.
I think a lot of people don’t think of the library because they think it will take too long to get a book or because there’s a short return time. Not always the case. It pays to check them out first.
Also the library has events like movie nights and cooking demonstrations. All free or really low cost.
Nancy says
I use the books on CD all the time. I can listen to books while I commute, or if I go to visit my mother. It keeps me awake, and I listen to great books at the same time. Also, I know the reader will pronounce the names correctly. I don’t always do that when I read.
Renay says
I check out cookbooks all the time, too. Great way to save money when you may only use a few recipes in there. Also, I always get my DVD’s from the library. Just put on hold, get an email when they come in and VOILA! Easy entertainment! Hey, we all over here in Bellevue pay for the library so we might as well use it.
Debbie says
King County Library (Washington) offers ZINIO – this a magazine service for downloading magazines for FREE!! (You can subscribe through them too but really, King County has so many of the magazines I read, I don’t need to.) You can download current and back issues and keep them as long as you want. You do have to follow the simple directions to add ZINIO to your tablet or whatever device you use, but it is super easy to do. Great to have this when taking a trip or on vacation.,…
rachel says
Our library (small town) charges you $2 for movies/tv shows per 5 days. Even though I’d never heard of that before, I was jonesing to re-watch a series that I knew I didn’t necessarily want to buy (for over $100 at that!) but just wanted to enjoy for nostalgia’s sake. Ended up costing me $28 for the seven seasons (they were hour-long episodes so it took us longer than five days to bust out a season) but it was totally worth it! I got my fill and it saved us a lot of cash in the end.
Kate says
What a great reminder.introduction for a resource that is often overlooked. Libraries are always changing to take advantage of new technologies and are a fantastic resource for everyone, especially those who are living a frugal lifestyle. Okay, I admit that I’m a librarian. :0)
Mary says
Our library has free museum passes. We use them all the time.
Mavis says
Seriously? That’s awesome!
Madam Chow says
I check out tons of books, and avidly use the “hold” option. Like another commenter, I check out a lot of cookbooks to see if I like them before I consider buying them.
Mavis says
I seriously have no idea why I’ve never thought to preview a cookbook before buying it!
Dawn says
Our family does not subscribe to any type of TV service. We use our library for all our home entertainment. In Delaware all the libraries are connected thru a database, so you can place a hold for anything in the state and they will deliver it to your local branch. We watch all the latest series and new movies.. we may have to wait a few months.. but it is well worth it. They even email you when your favorite author has new material. It is super! It is nice to “try out” a book or dvd before buying it. I have never used the library so much.
Cynthia H says
If you live in a suburban area, or if you work in a different town with a different library, ask if the libraries have reciprocal borrowing privileges. Frequently they do, and with the completion of a form (and a quick call to your home library to make sure you’re still in good standing) you have access to two libraries. This is particularly useful if the second library is in a different library district (for example, my home library is in Northern Illinois Library System but the library at the county seat is in Kishwaukee Valley Library System). Policies vary on what you can do as a reciprocal borrower, but I’ve used computers, taken out CDs and DVDs and done all sorts of things with a library for which I don’t live in district. In some cases (if the library IS in your district) they will let you take out a book there, but return it back home as if it had been an interlibrary loan.
Jess says
I’m not sure about other states but I use the Washington Anytime Library LIKE CRAZY! I love being able to borrow books onto my kindle app and I can read them from my phone when I’m getting my toddler to sleep and pick it right back up on my iPad in my reading chair or backyard. Sometimes you’ve got to wait a while for books to become available but there are so many books that it’s easy to find something to read while you’re waiting.
Angie W says
I LOVE the library! We have saved ridiculous amounts of money by using them. When there’s a TV series that we want to watch (currently Good Wife and Game of Thrones), we put a hold on them so they come to our library automatically when they’re available. We may have to wait a little bit of time to get it since some shows are popular, but it’s well worth it since it’s free. I also have Kindle and in the 2 years of owning it, have bought exactly 1 book. The rest of the time I use the library’s free kindle books that I can check out for 3 weeks at a time, and generally have 4-5 books on my kindle at a time. And cookbooks– I have saved myself a ton of money by trying a cookbook out before buying it. If I get it from the library and it’s a dud, it’s money I haven’t wasted. But if it’s fantastic, I can then buy it. I have also used the free museum passes at both library systems I’ve been in in the past 10 years– Pierce County and King County in WA. I really can’t get enough of the library!
Kirsty says
Here in Australia, parents have to buy high school textbooks, reading list novels and plays. Saved $24 by borrowing a play which was used for just a few weeks. And at the end of the school year don’t need to find a buyer for second hand texts.
Jude DeWitt says
My library system also offers Notary services. And the genealogical help I’ve found there, as well as documentation have saved me many hours, money and hair! LOL!