Did you know that library rents books?.
Of course you do?
But do you know all the other things that libraries rent these days?
Many people think of libraries as old, dusty places with old, dusty books. While this may be the case for some libraries, the reality is that more and more libraries are updating their services and offerings to keep up with the times.
If you think that libraries no longer have a place, think again. Check out your library to see if they offer the following things, all of which can save you big money on your home entertainment costs:
- eBooks – If paper books aren’t your thing anymore, but you still enjoy reading on an eReader, check out your library. Many now have rentals of eBooks so that you can download a copy of a book on your eReader, and have it available to read for the same time that you’d normally have if you checked out the paper copy, at which point it will expire.
- CDs and eMusic – Many libraries have CD catalogs, and now many are moving to where you can download MP3s through a service such as Freegal.
- DVDs – Neighborhood videostore closed down? Stuff out of stock or not available for streaming on Netflix? No big deal. Many libraries are stocking a bigger and bigger selection of popular movies and TV shows.
- Audiobooks – If you drive a lot, or have a lot of time where you spend listening to your MP3 player, you can get an audio version of many books, either on CD or in MP3 format.
- Museum passes – More and more libraries will let you check out passes to local museums, which normally have a charge associated.
- Kids activities – Many libraries will host activities for kids of all ages. From group story times, to play areas within the library, or special holiday themed events, you can get your kids out of the house and entertained all for the cost of…nothing.
- Internet access – Most libraries have computers or free wi-fi for you to use. Just keep it clean.
- Meeting space – If you need a place for a few people to sit down and chat, check out your local library. Many have conference rooms available, some with overhead projectors and other useful tools.
Do you use your local library? How does it save you money?