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Did you know your local library can help you plan your next adventure? We all know you can check out books from libraries, but did you know they offer so much more?
We were recently at our local library and I noticed some backpacks on the checkout counter. On closer inspection, they proved to be Virginia State Parks kits that patrons could check out.
These kits include a pass for free entrance to any state park and a variety of handbooks for identifying local plants and animals. There is also info describing Leave No Trace principles and how to get the most out of a visit to a state park. In addition, there is a magnifying glass, a dip net, and a bug observation container. What a great idea!
Whether you’re looking to save money, to try before you buy, or just find new resources to help you explore your area, the library has lots to offer.
When you think of the library, you may think of story time for the preschool set and long shelves of books. Or maybe you’ve checked out cds or dvds or magazines from your library.
But you will also find book clubs for all ages, game groups, craft groups, writing groups, and more.
Our library offers a variety of kits, including book club kits for people who host their own book clubs. Maker kits and health literacy kits are a great way to try a new hobby or exercise or therapy equipment before buying the materials needed. Memory kits are available to aid mental stimulation for seniors.
When we lived in Monterey, the library offered passes to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It’s a fantastic aquarium, but the tickets are pricey, so these passes were a great money saver. Our current library offers the state parks pass in the backpacks I mentioned earlier, and they also offer passes to the local children’s museum.
Many libraries offer access to a variety of online resources and apps. Ours gives us access to Transparent Language, but I know some libraries give access to other foreign language learning sites like Mango. Learn the language before you visit the country!
Kanopy is a streaming video service with thousands of movies and documentaries. The Libby app gives access to ebooks and audiobooks offered by Overdrive, and RB Digital also offers audiobooks and ebooks.
Our library has a toy library that you can check out toys from. I remember when I was a child our library had an art library that you could check out paintings from.
Most libraries also offer access to computers and the internet, tax info, job search assistance, historical documents, and much, much more.
Some things to remember
Don’t wait till the last minute to check something out.
Popular items like passes and maker kits may not be immediately available, so you will end up on the hold list. They won’t be a good choice for a last minute excursion, but are great options if your schedule is flexible.
Downloadable ebooks and audiobooks still have hold lists (it seems counterintuitive, I know), so you may not be able to check them out right away, either. If the book you want is already checked out, see if it’s available on Kindle Unlimited or Audible. You do pay for these subscriptions, but if you really want to read a certain book and you’re on a deadline, they might be a good option.
Your library is tiny and doesn’t offer much. Or does it?
You might be surprised what it offers if you dig around a little. But if you can’t find anything, there may still be options. When we lived in a tiny town in Colorado the library was ridiculously small. So we paid a small amount each year (or was it a one-time fee? I don’t remember for sure) for a library card at the much bigger library system in the next county over. We lived equidistant between the two libraries, so distance wasn’t much of a factor. Even if it was further away, the amenities of the larger library were worth the drive.
You’re traveling and not sure you can get the most from a library. You can!
If you’re traveling full time, it will definitely be more difficult to use all the amenities of a library, as a library card is needed. However, most libraries at least offer free wifi, charging stations, and a table to work at, even if you don’t have a card for that library.
If you’re just heading out on a road trip, on the other hand, it will be much easier to make use of what your library has to offer. Before you leave, take the time to check out and download some ebooks and audio books to take with you.
<our favorite audiobooks for road trips and books that celebrate being outdoors>
And if you’re road tripping in your state, be sure to check if your library offers passes to state parks, amusement parks, museums, or aquariums. Try to time things so that you can make use of a pass while traveling.
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What are your favorite amenities that your library offers? How have they helped you in your adventures?
