Libraries and lean living

The other day I was reminded that not everyone (even those I consider part of my closest circles) remembers that the public library is an excellent resource in tight times like these. As a library school graduate student I feel it is my duty to remind you that there are some awesome things available for FREE to you with your local library card.

For instance, did you know that you can

• RENT MOVIES at the library? Absolutely. And many libraries have the most current movies available too. Be aware, however, that not all libraries check out movies for free (mine does, but I know not all do), but even if they charge it will be a nominal fee. I've been renting movies at the library for at least 15 years now!
• Check out music CDs? Certainly! My son was surprised at some of the music I have on my computer. "Where did you get that CD, mom?" At the library! I've converted him now too!
• Use the Internet and computers? Almost every library in this country now is outfitted with computers (a lot in part thanks to Bill & Melinda Gates!), and these computers are available for you to use. You can write a letter or paper using Word; you can jot off an email or shop online; you can bring that disk of pictures and view them on a computer monitor. The only thing you cannot do, however, is check out lascivious web sites. Children may be watching!
• If you have young children, most libraries have story time and other activities for the children.
• And most valuable of all (in my opinion) are the online databases that virtually all libraries have. It's a hidden resource that not many people are are of. I was chatting online one day with a friend of mine who lives in Wyoming and he was commenting that his children, when they write a paper for school, tend to gravitate to the Internet to find sources for their papers. I told him about how his public library no doubt has access to encyclopedias, newspaper articles, and magazines and journals where his children can tap into reliable information from the comfort of their home. He was surprised to hear about it! In my library system, you simply have to go to library's web site and find the link that refers to the "online databases" (every library will call it something different) and out of curiosity I went to his library's web site and found out that their databases are not at the local library level, but on the State Library level! What a great resource for Wyoming residents!
  

Recently I posted a blog about how the economy is affecting museums and the arts. Though library funding is way down, the need for public libraries is increasing. Watch this video and see what I mean, and then get out and see what your library has to offer!: