The holidays are a great time for giving and getting new toys. For adults, these toys are often of the high-tech variety. Laptops, iPads, MP3 players and eReaders are on the top of many peoples' lists. But, after the shiny presents are opened and all of the electronics are charged up, it becomes clear that getting the music, movies, games and books to fill them up is going to cost a whole lot more.
But, don't let the devices with their pre-loaded stores stocked with one-click to purchase options blind you to the fact that you don't have to spend a fortune to have access to millions of books, CDs and movies. In fact, all you need is a small wireless device that can fit right into your wallet. It's called a Library Card, and they are given away to people almost every day.
If you haven't been inside a library in a long time, you will be pleasantly surprised if you were to pay a visit to your local library. As you would imagine, they offer a wide variety of books on almost any topic. But, what many people don't know, is that they also offer movies and music that you can check out as well. You can borrow a CD, rip it to your computer and load the music right onto your MP3 player without give iTunes a small fortune. Most libraries also offer a large selection of DVDs, including newer movies, television series and documentaries.
If there is something special you are looking for and can't find it at your local library branch, there is even a way to reserve the item from other libraries and have it sent right to your branch for you to pick up. The whole process is so simple and easy. In fact, most libraries have a website for their members where you can search for items online and reserve them for you to pick up later. This makes stopping by to pick the items up from the circulation desk a quick errand.
Did you get a eReader this year? Well, the library can even help you with that. Many libraries offer a selection of eBooks for checkout as well. So, make a resolution to visit your local library in the new year and get a library card.
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By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
I thank the author for promoting libraries, as many people do forget that they carry these types of items. However, I would like to point out that ripping a CD borrowed from the library is a complete violation of copyright law! If you want to own a recording, the ethical, responsible, and legal thing to do is buy a legitimate copy.
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right. I should have said that you can check out DVDs and CDs and watch/play them as much as you'd like. Thanks so much for your comment. Libraries are wonderful places for discovering new things.
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