Libraries offer vast opportunities for frugality

Wanna know what happens in September, besides tolerable weather, Labor Day and department stores putting up Christmas trees?

National Library Card Sign-Up Month, of course.

If you already have a library card, the Bargain Advocate and librarians everywhere offer you a warm smile and virtual pat on the back. If you don't, your homework assignment is to march to the closest library and get one as soon as you finish this column and drink the rest of your coffee.

I'm going to be honest with you: Library visits for the Bargain Advocate have changed since the arrival of Little Roy and especially Littlest Roy. Trips typically involve rushing in, shepherding a toddler and preschooler down two flights of stairs and apologizing to people who get stuck behind us, grabbing books at random (some of which I later regret — "I thought this was going to be a short book?") and attempting to prevent Littlest Roy from de-shelving an entire section before I can stop her.

But, really, I love libraries. And in case you didn't know, they've got a lot to more to offer than books.

I was contacted recently by a Bargain Advocate reader who works for the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library. She pointed out several services that particular institution — and, it turns out, many others — offers, including music, audiobooks, TV show and movie downloads, textbooks, magazines and more. Best of all, they're free.

Though I know our local library system does a great job at offering programming and services, I was pleasantly surprised when I visited its website recently at just how much was available (this is probably my fault for being out-of-touch and not having visited the library in at least a couple months due to the above reasons).

I did a bit more research and scoured events calendars and services at libraries in Media Network of Central Ohio markets, and while some offer more than others, I was impressed with the variety and selection.

Ready to begin exploring? Here are a few things frugal folks can enjoy from their local libraries. Visit your favorite branch's website to check out programming near you, then get busy with that library card.

1. Movies and television shows. Many libraries now offer a service called Hoopla, which offers a good-sized selection of movies, TV shows, music and audiobooks free of charge with a library card.

I scanned through the movies, which were sorted and displayed very simply and conveniently. You can search for a movie you're looking for, but the selection isn't as vast as, say, your local video rental place or Netflix queue. Approach it with an open mind, find something that looks interesting (I was intrigued by the film festival and documentary categories) and go for it.

Don't forget, you can also rent DVDs the "old-fashioned" way by picking up the hard copies at your local library. This includes entire seasons of TV shows — for example, "Downton Abbey."

2. Audiobooks, eBooks and downloadable magazines. Within five minutes of typing in my Licking County Library card pin number, my email address and a password, I was reading the most recent issue of "Country Living" on my laptop screen courtesy of a service called Zinio. Most libraries have huge selections of ebooks and audiobooks you can access or download without ever passing through their doors (provided that you have a card, of course) — which actually eliminates my excuse for not going to the library, because I can read these while Little and Littlest Roy destroy the living room without having to worry about being glared at by other patrons. Unless you count the cat.

3. Speakers, workshops, classes and events. During my perusal of local libraries' offerings in MNCO markets, I saw painting classes, yoga classes, a teen fashion show featuring outfits made of trash, a geocaching workshop, an estate planning class, food preservation workshop, LEGO workshop, movie nights, knitting, quilting and hiking in addition to the gamut of book discussion groups. With the exception of materials for a few, all these appeared to be free. In a way, many of these things are doubly frugal: First, because you don't have to pay money to attend them, and secondly, because many of them teach you how to do frugal things.

4. Exchanges and other surprise benefits. In researching this column I was reminded that our library has a seed exchange, wherein gardeners can take a pack of seeds from the seed bank, grow and harvest their crops and later take in their own seeds. It also lends out "Kill-A-Watt" meters that let you see how much energy devices in your house are using. (They go for about $20 in home goods stores.) To top it off, the library lets cardholders in good standing "check out" a pass for The Works, our local science and history museum, good for a day's visit covering up to four admissions.

5. Books. Don't forget, these cornerstones of libraries still provide quality entertainment and a wealth of knowledge about frugal living, how to turn your hobby into a business, exercises you can do at home, budgeting, DIY projects, gardening and countless other topics.

Moral of story: If you don't have a library card, get one.

If you already have a library card but are a bit out of touch about what your local branch may offer, I encourage you to head over to its website or — gasp! — walk through the doors. Browse its events calendars, program listings and electronic services. Download an indie film; find a new favorite TV show. It's all free. What have you got to lose?

If you have insight about a frugal living topic or an idea for a future column, please email me at amroy@nncogannett.com. I'd love to hear from you!

Happy saving,

Abbey