Though you may have found yourself relying much more on the Internet and tablets for reading books and gathering information, there is still one building that should always be on your list of places to go: The Library!
Despite the rise in Internet usage and ebook publishing, public libraries aren’t going anywhere. In fact, they’ve seen a 32.7% increase in physical visits from 2001 to 2010. If you want to see what all the fuss is about when it comes to these magical realms, then read on.
- The feel of a physical book is lovely. Ebooks certainly take up (way) less space, but they don’t have one thing that physical books have: the feeling of turning the page. You also get that unique book smell that so many people find intoxicating. Admit it: You love it.
- You can read books for free. Although this has always been an obvious draw for libraries, it bears repeating: you can read books for free. Yep, just pick up a book, check it out, and bring it home for weeks of entertainment.
- You can borrow other stuff besides books. DVDs, Blu-rays, audio books—you can borrow these things, too. Sure, Redbox lets you rent a DVD for only a couple of bucks, but free is always better, right?
- There are lending options for ebook-lovers. Public libraries are well aware that people love ebooks. Rather than staying in the past, many libraries are getting with the times and offering an ebook borrowing service—for free. Check out your local library’s website or talk to a librarian to see what they offer.
- Free classes are where it’s at. Want to learn how to use that fancy new software? Take a yoga class? Maybe you want to learn how to paint. Good news: Public libraries have a wide variety of classes for free.
- You can always use the computers for free. When the Internet is down at your place, you can bring your laptop to the library for some free wifi without being guilted into buying a cup of coffee. And, if you only have a desktop computer, you can use the PC stations free of charge.
- They specialize in local history. If you’ve ever wondered about the history of your town, this is the place to go. Libraries collect everything they can from their town, including maps, genealogy of local families and books written by local authors, among other things. Likewise, if you’re into history and are always looking to learn more about the past, then you’ll probably enjoy some of the best history books around.
- You can meet new people—in person! Public libraries are just one more way to meet people in person. If you love books, then this is the place to find other book lovers. Heck, you might even come away with a date as well as a stack of books.
- It’s your one-stop shop for government paperwork. Need income tax forms? Or register to vote? You can always get this stuff at the library.
- You can pick the brains of librarians. Sometimes you’re looking for something, but you just don’t know how to find it. Maybe it’s a book about a type of diet, but you don’t know the name. Or you read a great book years back, but don’t remember who the author was. Visit the reference desk—they’ll help!
- Libraries are growing with the times. Although they still have stacks and stacks of great books, libraries aren’t the soon-to-be-extinct dinosaurs that nay-sayers would lead you to believe. In addition to the aforementioned ebook lending library, these meccas of culture have other new-fangled ideas. My local library even has a 3D printer that anyone can use for free.
- Material in the library is much more trust-worthy. Sure, you can find a lot of information online, but can you trust it? In a lot of cases, online information isn’t well-researched or it’s based off of fake data. If you want a better chance of finding something real, go to the library.
- Nothing replaces aimless browsing among the stacks. Let’s say you’re looking for a new book to read. Sure, you could click around Amazon and find something, but it doesn’t feel the same as walking amidst the stacks, looking for the spine of a book that calls out to you. Sorry, Internet…libraries and bookstores win out on this one.