This year, one of the new regular columns I started and really enjoy writing is Unlocking Library Coolness, wherein I share unique and terrific resources I’ve discovered within local libraries, opportunities and items beyond the expected and inestimable excellence of All The Reading Materials.
This year, I’ve covered:
- Libby, the new app from Overdrive that includes audiobooks, ebooks, and in some cases, magazines
- Different language learning options, which as a wannabe polyglot, I adore (current language tutorial: Japanese!)
- All the magazine options for digital browsing – which led to my new and much-adored collection of cross stitching magazines from the UK, from which I’ve been drawing way too much inspiration
- My terribly satisfying habit of checking out cookbooks I want to try before I buy, which has increased the deliciousness of my life and saved me a ton of money
- the magical items that may be hidden in your local Library of Things – all sorts of things
- the outstanding opportunities to borrow museum, park, and attraction passes from your local library – including those museums that are hella expensive
This month, I want to encourage a different sort of library exploration, if you’re interested. This year, perhaps you might develop a habit of checking out (har har) what your local (library, not pub) is doing.
Library programs exist in part because people use them – and there might be a program or class that is ideal for you, your interests, and your goals for the coming year.
Most library websites have a calendar, and setting a regular reminder to look at what’s going on at your local can help you find out all sorts of nifty opportunities.
My local (Montgomery County, Maryland) has both a digital and a PDF magazine that’s terribly spiffy. When I flipped through the programs from now until February, I discovered the crafts programs, including knitting and crocheting clubs, plus a stitching club for all needle crafts. There’s also a games program, language programs, small business development sessions, STEM and programming workshops, plus music and dance – UK and Australian readers, please appreciate that there is a program called, “Dance your Fanny Off!”
Another library resolution I am making this year is to find out what other library systems offer me a library card (I believe the answer might be every county in Maryland) and then to schedule a trip to some branches to acquire said card. Other counties have options that my local system may not offer, including Acorn TV or larger ebook collections, and acquiring a card means more for me to read, watch, and enjoy.
Don’t worry – this column isn’t coming to an end. I’ll be back in January with more Library Coolness. So long as libraries remain the hecking coolest, there will always be more to explore.
What about you? Do you have any library resolutions? Is there a program at your library that you recommend, or that helped you out?
I had no idea that MoCo had a library magazine. Awesome. Thanks!
Sarah, have you tried Marina on MoCo library website? (I believe it’s technically a link to another website) There’s a little extra paperwork to fill out, but then you can check out library books from all over Maryland. It’s not the fastest method, but it’s great for when you don’t want to pay 8 bucks for a 30 year old Regency. Just as an example 😉
Another library resolution I am making this year is to find out what other library systems offer me a library card
I did this in February this year, and it completely transformed my reading options. And that’s focusing on nothing but Hoopla (my local library is limited to 5 Hoopla titles per month, the library I eventually settled my account on allows 20) and Overdrive. My local has 2,600 romance novels in its Overdrive collection, one of the libraries I’ve expanded to has more than 75,000 (not a typo). My local doesn’t allow Overdrive title recommendations, three of the libraries I’ve expanded to do.
I make a point to check out any romance novel I’m interested in from my local’s collection if it’s available because I want to send the message that this is a subject area they need to keep expanding, but in the past year I’ve borrowed 955 library books* and only 25 of those have come from my local library.
* not unique titles; I’m huge on rereading.
Most of my library coolness is kid related! The youth library cards auto-renew physical books which has already saved us a ton on fines. And our local library and new central library are my favorite rainy day options because they usually not only have books but also kid appropriate activities and toys set up, which is great when the toddler is climbing the walls.
Another cool discovery I made was that my library also offers academic e-books through a separate system- including a bunch of books in my professional field. So one goal this year is to make more use of that!
Consumer Reports is also free through my library and very handy.
Kanopy! 30,000 (no typo) films in their archive, available to download through your library (Check to see if your library supports this, not all systems do).
I like to support my library by going to the book sales held pretty regularly by the Friends of the Library – the sales not only have books that are pulled out of circulation, but books, DVDs, and magazines that patrons have donated. All proceeds go to the library fund, and I usually walk away with a bag of books for about $5.
I’m connected to two library systems, one local to work and one local to home. One has a ton of audio books through Hoopla (there’s an Amanda Quick hole in their audio collection though which I find strange) and the other allows suggestions through Overdrive which is so awesome.
I’ve used the library apps a lot more over the last year, at least partially because these posts have kept that option closer to the top of my brain. Thanks for that!
We’re really lucky in Ohio to have the Ohio Digital Library and OhioLink- the first is a big honking shared Overdrive library, and the second is a state-wide Inter-library loan system (including romances from a certain pop culture library!) that also gives folks access to things like scholarly databases.
If you don’t live in Ohio, but live near a state university, check to see what services they make available to the community! They also typically have loads of programming like lectures and exhibits that are open to the public.
My local library is pretty big but I got a card from the next jurisdiction over (which is much smaller) a few years ago when my daughter needed a book they had for a school project. I’ve found their Overdrive offerings are surprisingly different from my local library – and they allow recommendations (which have yet to result in them purchasing the books but at least I feel good about making the suggestion).
Every summer I’m grateful for the awesome summer reading programs and prizes. Great motivation for kids who get out of the reading habit as soon as school ends.
Thanks so much for posting about Libby – it’s been really great to have it. It allows you to add cards from multiple libraries so I can aggregate my ebook checkouts if I want to read them online rather than through Kindle. And they wait time info for holds is an excellent feature.
Libraries from neighboring counties would probably give you a card. I have one for the city where my parents live and one for the county where I live. As long as you have an address close enough to their area, they seem pretty willing to give cards. I was explaining that to a friend a few weeks ago because the closest library to her house is actually not within the same town as her house, a function of city library systems and the way suburbs smoosh themselves together. Spent about 30 minutes giving her a hard sell on getting a library card; now I just have to keep following up and nagging until she tells me she’s gotten it.
Here in the Seattle Public Library system we can check out T-Mobile hotspots, for those of us who can’t afford to carry in house cable or satellite Internet. Not only free, but free for 3 weeks; when your time is up you can put the device on hold again, wait until you are notified through email, and check it out as your place in the cue comes up. Right now there are roughly 675 of the hotspots circulating within the SPL system, and it is a life-saving program for me and my daughter (and she works for SPL at the Fremont Branch!). I am on a limited income, and my daughter works part-time there, so this program really Rocks! There are a few more systems in the US that have similar programs, Chicago and maybe Brooklyn? Fort Worth, Texas, and in Canada, the Toronto Public Library, too! Others scattered hither and thither, too, yay!
In my rural area Internet access is spotty and/or expensive. Our library has its hotspot available 24X7 and any school night, you’ll see cars and vans in the parking lot with kids doing homework research (or playing Fortnite). The library has been offering a lot of fun programs for the holiday break including a Grinch Day and a pajama party with Santa Claus. Next month’s offerings include a gardening seminar for the adults and a “reading to rover” program for the little ones.
My local library consortium offers RBdigital Magazines which has saved us a fortune in magazine purchases and hundreds of trees. My local’s online romance selection seems to be primarily “Buggy and Bonnet” and inspirational romances. I was able to get a library card in the county where my company office is located and its romance selection better suits my tastes.
Thanks for putting the word out about what is available at your local library. Just remember, those databases are not cheap to pay for which is why there are limits on the system or publishers’ titles missing. Be sure to support your library referendums. Yours in library land!
Of course there are crazy library users on this site! Libraries offer sooo much now. I consider myself a lifelong library “power user” but this series and all the comments have introduced me to a few new services, so thank you!
Library’s are also great places for elderly people to spend time. My mom became a widow 5 years ago and was feeling very lonely. I recommended she start visiting the library a bit more for books. It was something she hadn’t thought to do in awhile. Now, she goes every Friday and spends a few hours reading newspapers and magazines and just being out in the world. The staff all know her and are very sweet and chatty with her. It’s not surprising she enjoys it though. After all, she had given me the great gift of regular library visits as a kid, so it’s just a return on investment.
And yes, please vote for library bonds and write letters to local government for library funding! Also, consider donating books to Friends sales or volunteering yourself as these groups do a lot of fundraising and advocacy for your library and are usually full of mad book lovers!
Hey from across the bay (Chesapeake Bay, that is). As a MD resident, you can get a card at any county in the state. As a librarian, thank you for your column :-).
Swing by PGCMLS; we’re not on the Maryland Consortium for Overdrive and have our own titles available.
Creativebug is also available for free access via the PG system.
Hobbies and Crafts Reference Center (EBSCO) has PDFs available of many magazines.
Sarah, I’m a DC resident and I have or am able to get a library card at most nearby VA and MD counties – I have Arlington Co. and Alexandria and have applied for Montgomery Co., so you may want to check. You probably have reciprocity as well. I typically use the other counties for ebooks and audiobooks, not physical books, and it’s been very helpful a few times when DC didn’t have a particular book.