Tag: libraries

Addiction Is…

Inspired Bald Girl (IBG)

Aw, rats. Ok. Ok. I know I said I would stop buying books. But it was a library book sale and obviously libraries need money and who am I not to help?! Here is a picture of the books I hauled home. I also scored some records, but neglected to snap photos. I was super excited for, what I will call, a vintage R.L. Stine book. Also, super excited about The Indian in the Cupboard. I find the more I go shopping at book sales the more 90s books I bring home! I am getting super nostalgic as I get older. As I walked around with the book about the singers of the 70s, the clerk suggested a book about MTV, which I promptly wrote down on my to-read list. Was excited to learn about that title! Until the next time….

Place

Inspired Bald Girl (IBG)

Day 3 of my writing goal:

One of my favorite songs is You’re My Home by Billy Joel. I especially love when he sings

“Well I never had a place
That I could call my very own
But that’s all right my love
‘Cause you’re my home.”

It’s funny how we call a house a home, but our souls are “at home” or at ease in other places. For some it is at the water’s edge, or at the top of a mountain. For me, I feel at home in a library. The older libraries with creaky floors, classic, old volumes and light streaming through windows are my favorite. How lucky are we have so many volumes in one building? There are years and years of  historical records and journals at our finger tips. We can read about how our ancestors lived or learn the secrets of becoming rich. We can read about failure. We can read about triumph of good over evil. The inspiration is endless. Rejoice!!

Save Money – Use the Library!

Inspired Bald Girl (IBG)

Found this gem from an earlier date. Thought I would share again.

Some of these tips will be fairly obvious. Others, maybe you didn’t know about. Either way, I hope this post will inspire you to use your local library! It is a shame that most people don’t know what a gem public libraries really are.

1.  Books

Well this is a pretty obvious one, right? I often dream of a house with wall-to-wall bookshelves, loaded with lovely hard-bound copies of the great classics and all the art books I studied in college. Alas, that would be an epic waste of money and only for show. Very rarely will we re-read the books we have already read and chances are we run out to the store and pick up books we need to projects or inspiration, then they just collect dust. Unless the item is a hot best-seller in high demand, you can most likely get it at the library in-house or via interlibrary loan in under a week. My library has a system where I can request books or other items I can’t find on the shelf and receive a text message when it arrives and is ready to be picked up. WOW. How is that for convenience? Let’s say I am an avid reader of novels. A hardcover novel averages about $27.99 in the store. If I read a book a week I would be spending over $100 a month! That doesn’t include other fun books I might like to check out like DIY books, travel guides and whatever new inspirational self-help book is all the go. Sweet!!

2. Digital Books: e-Books & e-Audiobooks 

I love to read. I am obsessive about wasting time when I could be reading. I often carry a book in my purse, but that can get heavy. I wish I could read while I walked my dog – OH WAIT, I CAN!!!!  My library offers free digital downloads. Often I will download an audiobook to my smartphone so I can listen while I walk the dog, clean the house or even in the car.

Also, e-Books are great for traveling. If I am away for a week or two at a time, I cannot possibly lug around 4-5 hardcover books through airports and on the plane. I have an old Nook e-reader that I try and load e-books on that way I have one slim and light item with all my books in it for the plane.

3. Museum Passes

I live in a small state, but it seems there are so many good museums here! Most admissions range from $5.00-$30.00. If I went to a new museum every weekend at $30.00 that would cost me well over $100.00 a month! Yikes. I can borrow library passes and present them at the admission counter at these museums and I will receive the discounted rate of the pass. Sometimes if I am lucky, this means free admission. But that isn’t always the case. Sometimes it will be a percentage off or even just $5.00. But that is $5.00 I can save or choose to spend in the gift shop OR if I like the museum that much, I can put that $5.00 toward a yearly membership which always includes perks like free admission and discounted admission to events.

4. Learn a New Skill

Libraries have so many programs. I can take one (or a series of) classes to learn writing, drawing, painting, sewing and so much more. Libraries also have talks and seminars about financial literacy, health care and cooking! Why would I pay Joann Fabrics or Michael’s Stores to learn a craft when I can learn at the library for free?! And most times, they will supply all the items you need. Holy moly!! A sewing class at Joann’s costs $35! Library = FREE!! Free learning?! WHOAH!!

5. A Quiet Space

Sometimes I need to get out of the house to do creative work. There are too many distractions here. I used to head over to a coffee shop, grab a drink and a muffin and stay a while, much to the owner’s dismay. Instead, I go to the library. I find a cozy corner and dig right in. Price – FREE!

6. Judgement Free Zone

It is scary to say this but I have worked at the library for over a decade. I have learned a ton along the way. But one thing I notice is that all libraries are judgement free – the patrons, the staff etc. There is no shame at the library like there might be at other places.

7. Freedom

What could I mean here? Freedom to educate yourself on any topic. Freedom to learn. Remember – many countries don’t allow such luxuries like freedom to learn!! I can go into the library, take a book out on any topic (or even a banned book) and read it because I feel like it!

Well, I could go on but I think at this point you should be running to the library!