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- cross-posted to:
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“Provide services to poor people” is really valuable and kinda covers this but it’s worth mentioning on its own anyway: a lot of libraries have tools and stuff you can borrow when you need something occasionally but not often enough to waste money and storage space on having it. Need a food dehydrator for the occasional camping trip? Waffle maker? Laser cutter? Amazing service for anyone imo, poor or not
This will vary a lot of course, but in a lot of cases your local library may not be just your local library.
The library in my town isn’t anything too special, it’s a little small and doesn’t really have a lot of the cool things people talk about libraries having these days (though I am occasionally surprised, they have mobile hotspots you can borrow for example)
But it’s part of a network of libraries from around my county, so I can go check things out of around 30 different libraries and some of those other branches have a lot more cool stuff than mine does
My library even has original art you can borrow
My library has a seed library where I can go get seed packets ☺️
They also have a really cool little maker space, but I’ve never used it before (I wanna use the 3d printers some time but have to take the classes before I can use them)
Laser cutting? I need this back in my life. I used to dabble with the one at my last job. They’re fun.
Plus library cards can be used to access ebooks and audiobooks. They really are a fantastic resource
You can use your library card with apps like Libby, OverDrive, and Hoopla to read, listen to, and watch all sorts of stuff for free.
Is overdrive still usable? I thought it got replaced by libby? I still use libby but I much preferred overdrive.
My Kobo Libre still calls it OverDrive but maybe they just never updated the app.
Yeah, pretty sure if you follow an overdrive link now it will take you to Libby.
Not my library card though. Only the capital city library has it in my country.
One day I’ll do it but right now I’m too lazy to drive there.
Our library offers access to Kanopy, which is a streaming service!!
I have 3 library cards and I use them as frequently as I can. I’ve been building my video collection by borrowing blu-rays and ripping them to my pc. I have all of Star Trek Lower Decks and working on getting The X-Files.
I also walk the stacks to grab random books off the shelf. Sometimes I’ll flip through them, sometimes they will just sit at home before I return them a week or two later. Either way, the use numbers for library books go up and that’s a good thing!
The events are great, lots of art and music access. And one branch has a gardening swap meet to take in extra gardening scraps like cuttings, and extra fruits and veggies. I dropped off a bunch of extra spider plant babies and walked away with some new succulents like my new agave plant 🥰
Everyone should use their library card if you have access to one!
A buddy rents all his video games there. He hasn’t bought a game in several years. As he has two younger children it’s nice to save the money I’m sure.
So if you’re a budget gamer this is smart! You don’t even need to be a patient gamer it seems. He’s been renting games that have come out just weeks before.
His library (and mine) only offer console games. Not helpful for us PC gamers.
how would they offer to “lend” a game on PC?
Yup, but I don’t know the knowledge of all PC gamers so just trying to be helpful to everyone who reads the comment.
This game will self destruct in two weeks
This goes for voting, too, btw.
Eh, voting is free, library cards are not (over here).
Do they accept volunteers on average? I should check. I need to build solidarity with my community, figured something like that might be nice.
Many libraries in the US have a Friends of the Library volunteer group, or something similar. I volunteer at two of our local branches.
Just a FYI that you might have to be fingerprinted or do a background check. That was required for our county, as we are sometimes in close proximity to children.
Luckily I have a clean background. I’ll check it out.
I listen to so many books through Libby. Libraries are sacred
My library’s Kanopy selection is great. Finally watching The Prisoner all the way through.
Books, e-books, library of things, games, reading clubs, meeting spaces, computer access, community; libraries are an amazing resource and pillar of healthy communities.
More people should be using Libby I’ve been trying so hard to get everybody I know on Libby
Usually I just use the library online. Recently they made me come in to renew my card. While I was there I looked at the movies and saw one that I had just rented on Amazon. Face Palm.
I’ve been learning Japanese for free through the Mango languages app through my library. It’s great!
I go there for my state parks pass and occasionally check up on the people who I used to volunteer for
I’m currently streaming a show on Kanopy.com for free through my library card.
