I saw someone talking about this online recently and I wanted to bring the discussion here too.
Libraries can be supported by a number of means including website traffic, social media likes, newsletter sign-ups, visiting events/ programs, and, of course, checking out books.
I have had a long history with my local library and it blows my mind, sometimes, the services they offer that people don’t know about.
When I was a kid, I largely got into reading because of a monthly book club our library ran. Before that, I had never enjoyed reading books outside of a select few series because I wasn’t encountering books that spoke to me; but the librarian that ran the program was very savvy and picked great books that children could enjoy. To this day, I am still grateful for that program.
They also have programs aimed at adults that can range anywhere from book clubs to classes, and even very interesting author talks from time to time.
You can also borrow all sorts of exciting media aside from books. You can rent movies/ TV shows, music, and even video games these days. This is really fantastic for movies/ games that you think you’ll only want to enjoy once or twice and don’t need to own. It’s also worth noting that your library can have some pretty rare media that can be hard to find online or in stores.
Additionally, your library can sometimes have large niche equipment on hand for you to use too. I’ve seen some libraries with 3D printers and some with projectors you can borrow. A lot of time you only need to use these large appliances once or twice a year. In cases like this, it is much better to borrow from your local library.
Finally, your local library can just be a fantastic third space. When I was a kid, the library was a great place to meet up to work on class projects, not just because they had lots of information on hand and a Wi-Fi connection; but because they had all sorts of places you could set up and work. There were conference rooms, tables, benches, and even armchairs for reading (though those weren’t very useful for group projects).
If you haven’t visited your library recently, I highly recommend checking it out. It may have more to offer than you remember.
If you are interested, I have also included the original skeet that inspired me to make this post here.
It’s also worth noting that most libraries offer digital goods to borrow also.
I don’t have a lot of time to read anymore, but I’ve been able to “read” maybe half a dozen books or so in the last year by borrowing audiobooks from my library directly on my phone and listening to them on my commute.
i’ve been doing the audiobook thing a ton. it’s the primary way i consume books these days.
When I was very young we would rent audiobooks from the library and copy them to tape (or eventually disc).
The convenience of an audiobook cannot be beat.
Some of them have really good narrators, too. I just finished listening to The Color of Magic and I swear the narration/ voice acting was so good it felt like I was listening to a radio serial.