12 Great Reasons to Visit the Library
September 4, 2007 by Deborah Ng
Filed under Easy Entertainment, General, Simple Pleasures, Simpler Thinking
It’s no secret how I feel about the library. As the daughter of a librarian, I’ve always known it to be a wonderful place. If you’re thinking the library is only for borrowing books, you couldn’t be more wrong. Behold:
12 Great Reasons to visit the library
- Borrow Books – First and foremost, you can borrow books to your heart’s content. Granted, you’re only allowed a certain amount at a time, and you do have to return them by the designated date or you’ll be socked with a fine, but free book? I’m so there! Going on a long car trip? Borrow some books on tape!
- Research – The library is the absolute best place to conduct research for school papers or writing assignments. Look up laws, zoning regulations, health issues and more.
- Study – The library is quiet and a great place to look up answers to things you may not know.
- Buy Books – Libraries play host to some awesome book sales. Mine often hosts the “Ten for a
Dollar Book Drive .” Ten paperbacks for a buck? The only thing better than that is free. - Borrow Movies - Would you believe my husband and I only used our Blockbuster card once? Why should we rent when the library has so many great videos and DVDs? Every weekend I take out two or three movies and we watch together after our son is in bed.
- Borrow Music – I admit, this is a service I don’t use often but the library has hundreds of CD’s and cassettes for your enjoyment. I have a friend who likes to borrow them for her dinner parties.
- Book Discussions – My library has monthly book discussions. I enjoy getting out for some intelligent conversation with other grownups – and it’s all – you guessed it, free!
- Kids Stuff – There’s so much stuff for kids to do at the library! Our library offers story time, craft time, sing alongs, teen book talks, summer reading programs, book signings, poetry readings, and so much more.
- Internet Access – Just about every library in
America now offers Internet access. My library has about two dozen computers available to patrons. Each can use for about an hour before being booted off. My library also offers wireless. My power went out a lot last month and I took my laptop to the library to work. - Adult Classes – The library offers so many classes for adults. I’ve seen GED training, SAT prep, art classes, pottery classes, scrapbooking, pilates and more.
- Local Business Promotion – Many libraries help to promote local businesses. For instance, my own library features local artists’ work, or showcases a local business each month.
- Socialize – The library is the place to see and be seen! Every time I go I bump into people I know! But don’t chit chat too loud!
Libraries are wonderful, free resources. If you’re interested in getting out or learning something new, you can’t go wrong with your local library.
Coming soon…Home and Dining’s Fall Harvest Scavenger Hunt
I already borrow books and DVDs from the library but I didn’t realize I could borrow music CDs too. How cool! Thanks for the info, I’ll definitely check out my library’s CD collection next time.
Great advice. I have a library that’s literally walking distance from my house and I think I’ve only been there once. I need to get over there more often. I have a wish list on Amazon about 100 books long and I can probably go get a few at a time over at the library.
Agree, library, especially for kids, can be alot of fun. My wife and I have discovered that it is all in how you frame it.
you forgot magazines. No need to buy them, except for the ones you want to tear things out of..libraries usually carry a ton of magazines and if you find an article or piture you l ike you can copy it on the copier for a few cents.
Good post!
you forgot volunteer! it’s a great thing to do in return for all the stuff you get there for free!
13. Donate books. It’s tax deductible and a million times better than throwing them out.
Plenty of books, I read once and then I’m done with them.
Really good article my Local library also allows you to borrow CD Roms for learning
Smart Tips For Living
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Thanks for the excellent list! Here are a couple of additional items.
#13 Librarians
Librarians and library staff are experts at finding information. We can help you track down elusive bits of information. We can save you time. We can teach you how to find information much more efficiently. Ask us.
#14 Specialized databases
Did you know that most of the information published online is still not searched by Google? Huge amounts of high quality information is still not available for free, but your library is already purchasing access to much of it on your behalf. Many libraries enable you to access these databases from home. Visit your library’s Web site or contact your librarian to find out what is available.
Didn’t mention typically a vast list of online resources that you can take advantage of. A few (such as the Minneapolis Public Library) offer audiobook downloads and plenty of software available online (such as the wonderful Rosetta Stone language learning software). All for free, of course.
Library main functions are:
1. To provide Right Information
2. To the Right Person
3. At Right Time
My local library has a sale every quarter. They sell hard backs for 50 cents, paperbacks for a quarter, DVD’s $1, CD $1, childrens books are 25 cents…..it is wonderful!!
Great effort, But please add following points as
Missing Information Like;
Current Newspapers Availability
Projects / Thesis Availability
Company Reports Availability
Books Exhibitions
Archives
Current Awareness Services
Library’s Own Websites
Remote Access to Library Users
Types of Libraries; Publice Library , University Library, College Library , School Library,Children Library, Special Library, Mobile Library, Internet Library , Digital / Virtual Library etc.
Library Sections and Services