The Real Deal: Looking for free resources? Hit your local library for much more than books

Are your kids bored? Need some free entertainment? Do you need a free fitness class? How about free tutoring? If you haven't visited your library lately, you may be missing out on huge savings.

News 12 Staff

Oct 3, 2022, 10:53 AM

Updated 734 days ago

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Are your kids bored? Need some free entertainment? Do you need a free fitness class? How about free tutoring? If you haven't visited your library lately, you may be missing out on huge savings.
Libraries offer more than books. Many offer popular video games, DVDs, music CDs, even fully loaded Kindles and more.
"We have a huge variety of streaming services that we offer to the public through our website. We have one, two, three, four vendors where you can download e-books and audio books," says Gretchen Browne, the director of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library.
There are quiet study rooms and free use of the computers. If you are looking to spruce up your resume or prep for a job interview, you may find help with that too.
"There are specialists that come into the libraries and help people fill out their job applications and help them prep for job interviews. We also offer a huge amount of online resources for those types of things, as well as having a full selection of books and all of our reference staff," Browne says.
If you want to visit a museum - you can reserve passes on your library's website.
For kids, there is a place to play, read and learn. Some libraries even have space for entertainment.
If you want to exercise, some even offer free fitness classes - both in person and virtual.
Libraries have copy and fax machines the public can use for a small fee.
Most local libraries have a calendar of readings, art shows, concerts and more.
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