Libraries, since their inception, have had a long standing tradition of supporting communities through access to education, resources, and opportunities for community betterment. More than simply a nice-to-have, public libraries prove integral to our society by providing equal access to the resources many of us take for granted.
Now, more than ever, it’s important to support your local library so your local library can support you. Wondering how? It’s simple: use the services they provide to you! If you can’t find what you’re looking for online (especially at a price you want to pay), give Google a break, and check your local library. They may have exactly what you want, and what’s even better — it’ll be free.
Read on to discover resources you can use at home, anytime, for free — brought to you by local libraries.
1. Free movie streaming
2. Ancestry research
Access to ancestry research has been notably expensive. For example, an All-Access Subscription to Ancestry.com can cost you upwards of $400 a year. That’s a lot of money for an ongoing project that means a lot to many families. Libraries have you covered though! MyHeritage Library Edition provides billions of historical documents, millions of historical photos, and other resources in thousands of databases that span the past five centuries. Ancestry.com even has its own Library Edition…you guessed it, all for free.
3. Skills-based e-learning and how-to videos
4. Free audio and ebooks
Of course, we couldn’t make this list without mentioning books and reading. While we can’t physically go to libraries right now, libraries still provide access to thousands of audio and ebooks for download. From classics and children’s books to Romance and SciFi novels, this form of free entertainment is just a few clicks away.
5. Public service and assistance
Anyone, anywhere, can learn a language for free.
What’s your favorite public library resource?
