Frugality in practice: Using the public library
Posted
Oct 29 2007, 08:18 AM
by
Karen Datko
This post comes from J.D. Roth at partner blog Get Rich Slowly.
Most of us have financial blind spots. One of mine is books. I love books. When I first embarked on my quest for frugality, I began tracking every penny I'd spent. I was shocked to learn how much my book habit cost me.
In the past 18 months, I've cut my book expenditures in half, and I'd like to trim them even further.
One way I save on books is by frequenting the public library. Now that I've learned how to use it, it's an important part of my life.
Here are a few of the things the library offers:
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Books. You'll find new releases, graphic novels, classics, science fiction, history; books about self-help, home maintenance and repair, personal finance and more; as well as out-of-print, hard-to-find and specialty books.
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Magazines. Libraries are a good source for popular magazines. University libraries carry esoteric titles, as well.
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Music. My music budget has been slashed nearly to zero since I began borrowing CDs from the public library. You won't find most new releases.
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Movies. The library isn't as well stocked as a video store, but you can find many classic titles and recent popular films. The kids section is great.
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Audiobooks. I've been listening to audiobooks for a couple of years, and most of them have come from the library.
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College lectures. Many libraries carry lectures from The Teaching Company or similar organizations. This is a fantastic way to learn about new subjects.
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Story time. Kids love story time, and it's a great way to introduce them to the wonders of the library and instill a life-long love of learning.
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Cultural passes. My local branch has a checkout system for passes to the zoo, the art museum, the Japanese Gardens and a score of other institutions.
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Internet access. Not everyone can afford a computer with Internet access. The public library allows you to get online for free.
The library can seem overwhelming at first. Here are some tips to make the public library work for you:
Learn to use the online interface. This is key. Most public libraries have a Web-based utility that enables you to search their holdings, reserve books, check due dates and much more.
Learn the hours of your local branch. I walked to my library twice on a Monday before I realized that it was open only Tuesday through Saturday.
Make it part of a routine. My library branch is on the path between home and office, so I often stop after work. At our old house, the library was near the grocery store, so I would try to combine errands.
Have a designated space for library materials. It's easy, especially if you have children, to lose track of everything you've borrowed. Create a space at home -- I use an empty shelf -- that acts as your library holding area.
Make time to browse your branch. Each library is different, and you might be surprised at the holdings in yours. After we moved to our new home, I spent an afternoon browsing through the stacks. I was pleased to discover an extensive section on local history, including a book of reminiscences by old-timers.
Discover what services are offered. Most libraries offer story time for children. Did you know that many offer book groups for adults? A nearby branch has an extensive used-book store with dirt-cheap prices.
I borrowed nearly all the personal-finance books I've read in the past 18 months from the library. I've saved a fortune by borrowing photography books instead of buying them.
Here's a typical way I use the library: I heard about a book called “Self-Made Man: One Woman's Journey into Manhood and Back,” which sounded intriguing. I went to my library's Web site and searched for the title. From the detailed listing, I saw that nine copies are in the system. I also saw 15 holds, which often happens with a new book. I can wait. I clicked "request copy" and that's it. I save $24.95 and don't have to worry about buyer's remorse if the book is lousy. The library will send me an e-mail when the book is ready.
Every Friday afternoon on the way home from work, I pick up books and drop off ones I've read. This system is awesome. Give it a try at your local library.
Other articles of interest at Get Rich Slowly:
“Cheap and effective ways to make life easier”
“Building a cheap personal-finance library”
“A college education for $10 a course”
