Some of you may be familiar with the song by the above title, featured over a decade ago on the PBS show Arthur. It is a tune that haunts me, even as I hum it every time I pull into the library parking lot. I know I’ve shouted out the library before, but as February is National Library Lover’s Month, it seemed like a good time to mention it once again. I’ll list some of my favorite benefits of libraries below, but if you need another excuse to visit, February 4th is Bring Your Child to the Library Day.
- I am forever grateful for Storytime, although the library holds events and activities for people of all ages, often at no cost. Book clubs and craft groups and even exercise classes!
- The library is a great place for me to go and get some work done when I need to focus. The buildings are all climate controlled, and there’s free wifi. If I have to bring my children and if there’s not a storytime for them, not only are there books to distract them but Wake county just added new play towers.
- Wake County Libraries also have a program where you can tell them what sort of books you like and they’ll put together a couple recommendations in a bag and check it out for you. All you have to do is just go and pick it up!
- Librarians are valuable resources that often go undermentioned. Not only can they help you find books on the shelves but they can help compile research, assist with job applications, proctor exams, and more!
- Newspapers and magazines! If the paywalls on the New York Times annoys you half as much as it does me, you’ll be happy to learn that you don’t need to shell out money for a subscription. Of course you can read them at the library itself, but you can also access the NYT and other newspapers via the library’s website and many magazines are accessible through Overdrive. (Depending on your library system, they may use Libby instead.)
- Last but not least, the library benefit everyone knows about: Books! Databases! Information! A wealth of knowledge at your fingertips! How can you not appreciate saving money, checking out countless books for free to read instead of spending over $15 on a single one?