Free Books and Free Movies at the Public Library
Free Resources for Job Search, Homework Help, and Learning to Read
The challenging economy has many people looking for ways to cut back on spending. A trip to the public library might be the ticket the next time you seek resources for for school, work, learning or entertainment.
Free Movies at the Library
Many libraries have extensive movie collections on both VHS and DVD. While newer titles are sometimes rented out (often for as little as a dollar a week), most are available for free with a library card. Music on CD and audio books on tape or CD are also readily available. Some libraries belong to databases offering access to periodicals from around the world or audio books for download to your personal audio devices. Imagine, for free you can read a favorite magazine, plan a video night or stock up on some music and listening material for your commute!
Libraries Offer Job Resources
Libraries are very motivated to make available the titles most useful to the local community. Don’t assume your library contains only dusty old hardbacks of long forgotten literature. Business and trade journals, recent non-fiction for developing marketable skills and books to help you move into a new career or start your own business are all hot commodities. Most libraries also offer internet-access for job searches. Also, newspapers from local and national presses can aid in your search. If you seek a promotion, a new job, or just want to improve your talents check out your library.
Homework Help at the Library
You probably would expect to find books and encyclopedias on your study topic at the library. In addition, you might see searchable periodical databases to access peer reviewed journals completely unknown to you. You may find a genealogical room with sources to help you trace your family history. The special resources area might have hard to locate texts or out of print books. Don’t forget, perhaps the best resource of all, the librarian. The well trained staff of the library not only know how to access the library’s resources quickly they can help your search by showing you how to better direct your research with special advanced searches, databases, published guides and keywords.
Learning to Read and More
In addition to children's books the children’s section of the library might offer a story hour, reading programs, special computer software for young readers, and children’s videos or audio books. There might be puzzles and board books for the youngest book lovers, “leveled readers” for children learning to read, and books of all sorts to intrigue and captivate young readers.
Check out the bulletin boards for notices of local events, book clubs, used book sales, and speakers and performers hosted by the library. You may find free wireless internet on the premises, information of local interest, maps, and voter registration cards.
The library not only offers free access to countless books on-site and through inter-library loan, but free resources in print, video, audio, and database formats. Whatever your needs, be they family entertainment, career development, or scholastic improvement, you can find the resources you need at the public library.
