So I’m a big advocate of utilizing your local public libraries. The best way to secure more funding for them is to use their services! So I thought real quick that I should write up a quick posts about the services that many libraries offer nowadays that you may not know about. Some of these points may be applicable mostly to America and Canada, but it’s worth checking in with your libraries in other parts of the world to see if you have similar services available! And definitely post here if you have more to add.
Membership
One point I’d like to start off with is that, even if your local library system is smaller and doesn’t offer the services you’d like (or have the books you’d like), check in with the nearest major cities! In many places in the USA, libraries don’t require that you reside in the city the library is in, only the same state. For example, I don’t live in the city of Los Angeles, but I have a Los Angeles Public Library card because I live in the state of California and that’s all they require. Many times you have to get to the city to pick up the card in person, though, so plan on this the next time you’re in the area.
Books
Of course, the first thing you’ll think of at a library are “books.” But did you know:
-
Many libraries have suspended their fees for overdue books, due to the administration of the fee system costing more than they collect.
-
Libby is a service many libraries offer that have ebook and audiobook checkout. If you have a Kindle or Kobo device you may also be able to read your ebooks on there instead of on your phone or tablet as well. Your books will automatically return themselves at the end of their loan period, so you don’t have to worry about fees if your library still has those. Libby has a limited number of copies for each book, so you may need to wait for your book to become available.
-
Hoopla is a similar service to Libby in that it has ebooks and audiobooks, but it also has comics, tv shows, and movies as well. And with Hoopla, your library has an unlimited number of copies, so there’s no wait time! Instead, you have a limited number of items you can chekc out per month.
Movies
For movies, you might think of only DVD rentals. However, many libaries also offer streaming servies!
-
Kanopy is a streaming service that offers high-quality movies such as the criterion collection, oscar nominees/winners, etc. You have a limited number of watches per month, set by your library.
-
Hoopla, as mentioned above, also offers TV and Movies for streaming. They also have binge passes, which give you temporary access to the catalog of some major paid streaming libraries such as CuriosityStream and **
-
My library offers these services but I haven’t used them yet so I can’t comment on the usage experience: Digitalia Film, which focuses on foreign language films and classic American cinema, and medici.tv which focuses on classical music including videos of concerts, ballets, operas, etc.
Music
Of course you may be able to check out CDs, but your library might also offer:
-
Freegal, a service that allows you to download 5 DRM-free mp3 tracks per week from the Sony Music catalog.
-
Hoopla also offers streaming music!
Video Games
via @any1th3r3 - Your local library may also offer video game loans!
News
Many libraries give you free access to paywalled news media, such as the New York Times Digital, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, etc.
Online Learning
Your library may also offer free access to some online learning websites such as LinkedIn Learning, Craftsy, Mango Languages, and more!
Makerspaces
Many library systems will offer makerspaces with access to 3d printers, laser cutters, specialty printers, sewing machines, photo studios, and sometimes even CNC mills! Of course the tools offered in these spaces are highly depending on the individual library system.
Seed Banks
Fairly self explanatory, some libraries have seed banks so you can start your own garden!
Tool library
Some libraries also let you check out tools such as power drills, circular saws, sewing machines, etc.
Passes
And last on my list, libraries often will offer passes to museums, zoos, and other local activities in your area.
Please utilize your libraries!
Finally, I’d like to end off by repeating what I said at the start: The best way to secure more funding for your library is to utilize your library. Libraries are one of the few spaces left where you can go and are not expected to exchange money for their services. They bring equity to many underserved communities and it is vitally important to preserve them. A lot of people I know think that they want to avoid using the library because they don’t want to “take away the resources from those who need it more,” but in reality it’s the exact opposite! The more you want others to be able to use a library, the more you should use it yourself as well!
Some other things that my library has that your library might have as well:
- Story times for kids
- Book clubs
- Craft activities for kids, teens, and adults
- Anime club for teens
- Computer and internet access
- Computer/tech literacy classes
- Resume and job help/resources
- Genealogy resources
- Equipment to digitize analog media (scanners for photos and slides, etc.)
- Traveling exhibits (ours alternates between being for kids and adults. Right now it’s an interactive STEAM exhibit for kids, before this it was the history of the guitar.)
- Bookmobile!
Love my library!
And ILL!
If there’s a book/CD/movie that you want that’s not at your library, your library will borrow it from another library on your behalf, using the InterLibrary Loan system. Most of the time, there’s no charge to you. I’ve made use of the system at my library lots of times, and I’ve only been presented with a charge once (the book was rare and out-of-print, so the lending library was understandably worried).
Yes! I used ILL all the time in college.
here’s a fun contribution to your list: a few libraries have gotten into providing transportation alternatives like bikes!
I had no idea a library could have that much. Thank you for the info!
No problem! Of course what your library offers will be very specific to your library, but it’s definitely worth having multiple library cards so you can use the different services at the different libraries near you. For example, my smaller, local library system doesn’t have a makerspace or tool library, but they do have more video views per month on Kanopy than the larger library in the major city nearby, but the larger library does have a very well stocked makerspace.
awesome list, thank you! our local libraries really have so much to offer and it’s really a bit of a shame that more people are not aware of that!
shameless plug (and from my pov your list would be incomplete, haha :p) but I’ve tried to make finding video games at my local library a bit easierThanks so much, I totally forgot about video games! I’ll add them to the list :D
The second best way to fund your library (in the US) is to vote in local elections and school budgets. Most of your library’s revenue comes from local government, like 70-80%, they get very little from the state (it’s less every year) and almost nothing from federal. They need you at the ballot too.
Edit: Don’t forget outreach! Your local library system probably also has a program to deliver items to people who can’t visit a library in person, and is a source for materials for the visually impaired.
Absolutely libraries are an amazing resource and provide an array of sources from adult education, 3d printing, internet service plans, and more. They are such an a great resource to have and are way more than just books on a shelf.
It’s crazy to think that libraries exist at all. If they were to be proposed in the US in today’s political climate they would have absolutely been blocked because they would lead to a loss of sales. In fact this garbage is exactly why digital distribution is so convoluted and expensive for libraries.
The library system near me has a music streaming service with local artists’ music: hum.slcpl.org. I’ve found some good albums through that.
It’s using a propriety server application called musicat. My hope is that someday more libraries start doing the same thing using Funkwhale, a fediverse alternative.
