The Library is possibly one of my most favoritest places in the Universe. The ENTIRE universe. Even compared with all those cool-looking nebulae. 

This is why: The Library is full of Knowledge. 

And it’s full of Free Stuff.

I don’t know about you, but for me it is very difficult to walk through a Barnes & Noble and not be immediately attacked by books flying through the air and fighting with each other to jump into the basket.  All of a sudden, I have intense and undeniable interest in Medieval medicine, engineering in the 1800s, and the fate of the Neanderthals that I wasn’t aware of prior to walking into the bookstore.  Suddenly, kilt-making and space elevators are the most fascinating topics, and I find myself wading through piles of books on knitting, remodeling, and political cartoons by Dr. Seuss just to remember what I came in for. I absolutely love this.

I feel much the same at The Library, but unlike a bookstore, I can actually get OUT of The Library without spending money. 

In case you are not a reader, you need to know that The Library (yes, it deserves to be

 capitalized) also has:

• Magazines

These have pictures. Also, they are usually arrayed near a comfy sitting area where you can relax and enjoy yourself. If your Library has a good magazine collection, you can cancel all those subscriptions you have and spend time reading your favorites at The Library.  Also, The Library usually has an extensive collection of back-issues, so you don’t have to worry about storing your own archival collection at home. This can free up a lot of space and clutter at home, giving you more elbow room and helping you feel at ease. 

• Movies

This is kind of like renting a movie, except without the price.  It seems like a lot of libraries have really grown their movie collection recently; this may be because people will donate older videos as they make the transition to DVDs. Or, it may be because library funds are recognizing the demand for excellent video collections. Or perhaps your library is still struggling in this area.  They might still have a few that you haven’t seen yet! Many libraries have separate sections for children, so you might look in a couple different areas or check the catalogue if there is a particular title you want. 

• Non-Fiction Videos and DVDs

For some reason, libraries often have excellent collections of educational materials.  NOVA makes excellent documentaries, usually narrated in a big, booming voice that oozes authority in all wonders of Nature.  BBC produces a vast array of materials, such as multi- part series basd on books you don’t have the time to read.  Some of these are quite good. Try looking for exercise videos (if you check out a video and never watch it, you certainly don’t need to buy it), painting videos (it’s like a free art class), or award-winning documentaries. Some libraries even have terrific collections of TV shows– you can put on Trading Spaces or Scrubs while doing ironing, or whenever else you like to watch TV. They don’t even have commercials

 

• Audio Books

These are available at most libraries, and if you feel like you don’t have time to read or just get bored looking at words on the page, it’s a great way to consume media while doing other things.  If you commute, you can listen to the books while driving or while riding the bus. On the bus, it’s a great way to create a little mental space for yourself while crowded by strangers. You can listen to them while doing housework or other chores, and it helps make time for you to get all those books read that you’ve been telling  yourself you should read, but just don’t have the time to read them. 

•  Computer Use

Most libraries have a computer section available where you can sign up for their computers for a set period of time.  This may be how you currently access the Internet to read this blog. Or you may be thinking of foregoing your home Internet access due to bills; the Library is a great place to use the Internet for small periods of time for free.  In addition to the Internet, libraries often have software available for your use.  The children’s section often has educational programs or interactive books; spending time on these can increase computer literacy in your kids. Or, if they have the software available, you could use the library as a means to increase your own computer literacy. Check your local library to see what their Internet policy is.  

• The Kids’ Section

Whether you like to read or not, your kids can go crazy in the kids’ section and look at whatever interests them.  They might not be of reading age, but enjoy the pictures. Or, they might be learning to read, and needing new material. Or they might not be interested in the books, but use the library to find a lot of information about their favorite sports, comic books, or crafts. Or they might be avid bookworms and need something to keep them occupied.  Even if you are not hugely familiar with the kids’ section at your library, the librarians in the children’s section tend to be very knowledgeable and can help your kid find something to interest them, whether they are avid readers or not. 

• Community Events

Many libraries have a Community Events calendar, with childrens’ holiday parties, book signings, free lectures, fairs, travelling exhibitions, etc. The list is pretty much endless. What your particular library offers probably changes frequently and a schedule should be available at the front desk or Information desk.

• Study Sessions and Free Classes

Some libraries have tutors available or a series of free classes on basic topics such as computer literacy, tax preparation, etc.  There are often book clubs or writers’ groups that meet at libraries. This is pretty much free education, which is most excellent and should be taken advantage of whenever the interest arises. 

• Community Board

Near the entrace to the library there is usually a big community bulletin board. It’s often a great way to take advantage of the free advertising that a flyer can provide, or a way to find out what is going on in the community.  You can advertise your own services (as a tutor, a house cleaner, a childcare provider, a bicycle repairer, a mural artist, a website designer) to pick up some extra cash, or you can join in community events and get more plugged in. 

• Volunteering Opportunities

Many people who have enjoyed donating to charities have found that their decreased circumstances have made it more difficult to participate in the philanthropy they once enjoyed. Most libraries thrive on an active volunteer participation, and have a lot of different options so you can easily find something you enjoy. If you like to give but don’t have the cash, or if you like to participate in bettering the community, stop by the volunteer office at the library and talk with them about what your interests and talents are, and they can get you plugged in.

• Solitude

If you have a hectic worktime, a messy home, a busy schedule, roommates, a small house, a shared bathroom, carpoolers, or an energetic family, you might have a hard time finding those few minutes of solitude.  The Library is full of corners where you can feel like you can get away from it all.  The prevailing hush can offer a mini-vacation from the daily grind. Find a corner you like and enjoy visiting. 

And now, some parting tips:

• Encourage your kids’ excitement in the library, even if it’s in seemingly mundane topics. Life is better when you’re learning something.
• Combine trips to the library with other excursions to cut down on gas. Or locate a library close to you and make a practice of walking there. A little bit of exercise can be enjoyable.
• Avoid overdue fees. You can designate a place in your house near the door for library books when they are not in use.  Try to check out only what  you think you can consume in a week. Frequent trips will cut down on the likelihood that you will forget to return materials. Also, more expensive items such as videos probably have steeper fees. 

Any other unexplored and cost-free uses of your local library? Any more tips on how to share it with your friends? Get plugged into the community? Create valuable family time? Share your stories!

 know how much mine costs. It costs $0.00. With a little ingenuity (or maybe a major paradigm shift) yours can cost $0.00 also. 

First of all, (and this is the hard part) you need to call up your cable provider and cancel. Do it now. I’ll wait.

. . .

     …

         . . .

Are you back yet? Ok.

“Now what?” I hear you ask. Well, there are other, freeer sources of TV that you may not have tapped yet.

• If you just want mindless entertainment, sites like YouTube have plenty for everyone. 
• Most major networks have full episodes of your favorite shows available. Try the following:
• NBC : Click on Watch Video in the main menu, then select those shows with the green circles. These have full episodes to view
• CBS : Click on “Watch & Chat” and there will be a selection of full episodes to watch. These are arranged by”room” where you can discuss the merits of the content with other avid viewers.
• ABC : Click on the menu item that says “Free Episodes”, and watch free episodes of all that they have available.
• Cartoon Network : Click on “Video”, then “Shows”, then select the one you want to watch. They are only available for a limited period before new content replaces it.
• Check out other video sites like hulu.com or made-for-web cartoon sites such as homestarrunner.com

Whether you realize it or not, your friends might be an excellent source of TV.  For those of you who watch Gray’s Anatomy or Heroes just to be able to talk about it at the office the next day, why don’t you find people you’d enjoy discussing it with during the commercials? Commercials are better when you’re not watching them, anyway.  If TV is truly a social event for you, share it with somebody with a bigger screen and a better cable budget than you have.  It’s a great way to get to know people and maybe share something you love with someone new.  Plus, your friends might have an extensive existing DVD collection of shows you haven’t watched yet.  Chances are if they are excited enough about a show to buy the DVD, they will want you to borrow it, watch it and share in the wonderfulness that you might be missing otherwise.

I hesitate to mention this because Netflix does, in fact, cost money, but if you already have a Netflix account, you are already spending the money anyway. Do you realize you can get seasons of your favorite shows through the mail? It’s amazing! They play in your DVD player and everything. If you don’t already have Netflix (or insert media service of choice here), you might find that it’s cheaper to get a basic subscription than pay for cable. I know, I know, it’s a “spend less” mindset rather than a “spend none” mindset, but I mention it because it might be a cost-saving option. And it might be the “gateway” into just foregoing your TV altogether. 

This is actually my favorite TV option here. There are about a million things to do besides watching TV.  Maybe even a million and five. Anyway, there are a lot of alternate activities. You can go for a walk, play with your kids, start a novel, read a novel, learn a new skill, pick up some freelance work, put a few extra hours in to get that promotion, find a new job, learn to sew, learn to draw, volunteer, get more sleep, take a long bath, etc. I don’t know — go crazy. If boredom was seriously your main reason to watch TV, then you might be pleasantly surprised…

Well, even with all those options you might find that it is just too hard to cancel your cable. If the TV is too tempting, have you considered just selling the box altogether? Then you’d get extra cash, extra space, and one less bill every month. Plus, it might cut down on arguments about TV watching. But maybe that’s not for you. I’d just as soon keep it for movies and games, personally. Living without the cable bill (not to mention extra channels, pay-per-view, DVR, other various add-ons) is enough for me.