Surprising Ways the Public Library can Save You Money

There are several surprising ways the public library can save you money. I’m not just talking about saving on books, either. That is pretty much a given. My daughter is just like me and she loves to read. Instead of buying her new books all of the time, we will just be using our library. This is going to save me a ton! For this post, I’m talking about all of the free resources and items that the library offers that you are probably spending money on when you really don’t need to.

Kid’s Activities

This is something that you will want to take advantage of, especially during the summer when they are about to drive you crazy. The local library offers all kinds of activities to keep the kids busy. They offer story time, crafts, and a whole lot of other interests for all ages. Just check out your library’s website for dates and times. I looked up mine and they offer an activity where kids with reading difficulties can come read out loud to a therapy dog. How cool is that!

Another activity I saw was “Books Come to Life: Harry Potter” where kids get sorted into houses, get to make wands and do spells. If there wasn’t an age limit, I would totally be there. Yes, I’m a Harry Potter nerd, don’t judge me :). There are just so many fun things the library offers to keep your kids busy and entertained. The best part is, they are all free!

Classes

The good times aren’t just for the kids. My local library offers all kinds of free classes and seminars that I could take too. Just looking at this month, they are offering art classes, photography classes, financial classes, even language classes! I could learn a new hobby or language for free! I think this is a great way for people to get out and meet others with the same interests, especially the elderly. It keeps your mind and social skills active.

Internet Access

Not everyone can afford a computer or home internet. If you need to do research or even apply for jobs, the library offers free usage of their computers and internet. I used to use the library computer all the time when I was applying for jobs. This was way back in the day when I had graduated high school. I won’t even tell you how many years ago :).

Tutoring

If your kids need help in school, your library may offer free tutoring. I looked at my library’s website and they offer free access to Tutor.com. They also offer free homework help, on a variety of subjects, where you can get one on one help online. I think this is such a neat thing to offer. I know my daughter might need it when she gets in school because I won’t really be able to help her with all of her homework. I think all of my algebra and geometry lessons have vanished from my mind!

Free Downloads

A lot of libraries now offer free downloads you can get directly from their site. Mine has free audiobooks, music downloads, eBooks, eMagazines, and more. You can download it straight to your computer or phone and it is yours to keep. You don’t even have to worry about returning it!

Hoopla

You probably know that you can get free movies, music, and magazines from your library but the selections are usually older or limited. That is why some libraries offer Hoopla. It is such a cool app. This is not available for everyone though, you can go here to see if your local library is apart of this program. They not only offer ebooks but also audiobooks, full album downloads, movies, comics, TV Shows, and more. They don’t just offer classics but also some of the newest releases! Looking at the front page, I see that they offer music from: Sam Smith, Amy Winehouse, Ariana Grande, Luke Bryan, and so many more.

You have 7 days to stream or download what you borrow before it gets removed from your account. Hoopla is simple to access and use, without the hassle of having to return the items you’ve borrowed, all you need is your library card, a web browser, smart phone or tablet to get started.

There are just so many ways the public library can save you money. If there is a new book, magazine, movie, etc. that you really want but they don’t have, just ask them to order it for you! Nine times out of ten they can get it and you just saved at least $10. Visit your library, ask what is new, and start having fun while saving money at the same time!