In ancient times, there were buildings in local communities that contain a collection of books that people could borrow for free. You may not realize it, but that tradition continues today, but they have a lot more than books.


We've talked about how to get the most out of your local library online before, but a lot has changed in the last few years. You probably have a smartphone or an ereader laying around high-speed internet access is only becoming more prevalent. Still, your public library has some fight left in it. Here are just a few things you still might be interested in doing.


Rent A/V Equipment

The selections available may depend on what kind of budget your local branch has available, but many of them may be able to rent out audio cassette and CD players, or even more modern equipment like Blu-Ray players or laptops and projectors. In some situations, you can't take certain equipment out of the building—like projectors, which are often used for meetings or presentations within the building—while others allow you to take the hardware home, but may attach a small fee.

Get Access to Paywall Content

Some public libraries allow you to access content on websites that are behind paywalls simply by visiting their websites. Many libraries have their own subscription to Consumer Reports, for example, and will allow you to get in by simply providing your account credentials. This may include newspapers, magazines, or research material.


Find Tickets to Museums, Concerts, and Events

You might not be able to subsidize all of your weekend outings with a library card, but sometimes you can find memberships to local zoos or museums that you can check out. If you're lucky, you may be able to find some tickets to theater performances or sporting events as well.


Print Off Legal Forms

Legal stuff may be boring, but libraries are great places to find the forms and information you need to do your taxes, start a business, draft a will, or anything else you might need. Libraries may not be a complete substitute for legal advice—if you're starting a business or need a lawyer, you should probably talk to a human—but for getting the paperwork you need, you can often get it for free or cheap.


Fill Up on Ebooks

Okay, sure, we said without touching a book, but technically you won't! If you have a Kindle or similar ereader, you can walk in to your library and check out a huge selection of ebooks. Amazon even partners with thousands of libraries to provide literature to the masses. When your lending period is up, the book is automatically "checked back in" and removed from your device, so you don't need to worry about late fees.


Your library has a lot more to offer besides just checking out books. Best of all, in nearly all places, getting a library card is absolutely free. It's money (and resources) on the table, so why not make some use of your local branch?

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