Libraries get a bad rap. They’re often labeled as out of touch, stuck in the past, or places that are exclusively for kids and old people.
But actually, your local library is probably a lot cooler than you realize. In fact, many local libraries are completely up-to-date, offering everything from eBooks and eReader rentals to Adobe Creative Suite and even 3-D printers. They offer lots of other services and resources, all for free.
When combined, taking advantage of everything your local library has to offer can save you tons of money – $5,688/year, to be exact.
- Checking out books
Of course, books are the foundation of your local library! You can find just about everything at the library, especially if you’re in a metropolitan area. Whatever they don’t have in stock, they’ll search other local libraries for and have it sent over for free. If you’re in school and need a textbook, borrowing from the library saves lots of money.
Many libraries also offer the latest magazines, weekend editions of the newspaper, and eBooks now, for those of you who prefer to read on an eReader. Some libraries even lend out pre-loaded eReaders.
The average person reads 12 books each year, and the average book costs around $15. Add in a cancelled magazine subscription (The New Yorker costs $60/year), and that’s a good chunk of money saved.
Savings: $240/year
- Using their internet
People seem to forget that all local libraries offer free internet services. If you’re really trying to budget right now, and you live within convenient distance to a local library, consider cancelling your Wi-Fi and taking a trip to the library when you need to use the internet.
The average internet-only package with Comcast costs $49.99/month – add on bonus savings for cancelling cable as well.
Savings: $599.88/year
- Checking out DVDs and games
Aside from books, local libraries also offer a full selection of DVDs and video games. And, contrary to what most people assume, many libraries offer new releases. In fact, your local library probably has a better selection than Netflix.
Cancel your Netflix and Hulu subscriptions and go to your library instead. If you really want to save, cancel your cable as well.
Savings: $215.76/year, at least
- Free event spaces
Local libraries also offer conference rooms and event spaces, sometimes free of charge. For larger events, they may charge a fee, but it will almost always beat out private event spaces.
Perhaps you’re looking for a space to hold a birthday party, religious ceremony, or host a workshop or seminar for your business? Check your local library!
For example, the Indianapolis Public Library offers a free meeting room space with A/V capabilities for up to 4 hours to non-profit and community organizations. For-profit businesses are charged $80 for the 4 hours.
They also offer beautiful, large event spaces such as the West Reading Room, which costs $900 for 4 hours if you’re a not for profit and $1,100 if you’re for profit. A similar privately-owned event space in the middle of downtown Indianapolis costs several thousand per hour, and a meeting room rental costs at least $240 for 4 hours
Savings: $160/year, at least
- Tax filing assistance
If you want help with your taxes, not only do many libraries offer it for FREE, but you also know that their employees are sincerely there to help you and not to make money for their business. H&R Block charges, on average, $189 for tax filing assistance, and many people end up paying several hundred.
Savings: $189/year or more
- Kid-friendly entertainment
All local libraries offer regular events for kids such as puppet shows, story time, movie nights, arts and crafts, and even more involved programming such as toddler yoga, homework help, and STEM workshops.
Skip the tutor who costs you $100/month and swap out one $50 family outing each month for a free movie at the library, and you’ll see huge returns.
Savings: $1,800/year
- Life skills classes
Libraries offer all kinds of useful classes and workshops for adults, from language lessons and G.E.D. tutoring to history lectures, knitting classes, writing workshops, and time management classes. The San Jose Public Library even has a “Life Skills Academy” that teaches things like cooking on a budget, finding an affordable apartment, and money management skills.
Instead of paying $100 for a month of knitting lessons, learn at your local library! Add to that the fact that you can learn to cook at home on a budget, which could easily save you $30/week, or $1,560 per year, if you make your lunches at home on the weekdays instead of eating out, and your savings will skyrocket.
Savings: $1,660/year
- Career services
If you’re unemployed or even looking for a better job or to get a raise, your local library is an incredibly resource. Aside from the wealth of knowledge offered in the books they have on hand, and the computer and printing services, library staff also offer all kinds of career services. You can get career counseling, Microsoft Office and Excel training, and resume help at many local libraries.
You’ll likely increase your earnings by utilizing these services, but you’ll also save money. A professionally written resume usually costs at least $150, and a Microsoft Excel training cources can go for $299 or more.
Savings: $449/year
- Software downloads
Speaking of Microsoft Office, the computers at your local library are often equipped with all kinds of software that would cost you money, such as Office, Photoshop, and even Adobe Cloud. They also have printers and copy machines, and some libraries now have 3-D printers.
Instead of buying a new printer when yours breaks down, use your local library to save $100. Save another $200 by using Microsoft Office at the library instead of buying it yourself.
Savings: $300/year
- Borrow tools, seeds, recreational equipment, and more!
Some libraries even lend out things like gardening tools and fishing poles. For gardeners out there, lots of libraries across the country are starting a seed lending program or seed bank. You can check out seeds, grow vegetables and fruits, and then harvest the new seeds and return those to the library to be lent out again. Besides, growing a garden is a great way to save money.
Checking out a fishing rod instead of buying one and using your library’s seed bank to plant your next garden could easily save you $75.
Savings, $75/year
Combine all of these resources, and that’s a total annual savings of just over $5,688! That’s an incredible return and such a simple way to save money.
Every local library offers different services and resources, but all can save you a good amount of money. Check out your local library and see what they offer. If yours helps you out, you can even give back by donating books, movies, and CDs you no longer use.
