Items at some libraries:

• Kill-a-Watt voltage meter
• Radon detector
• Telescope
• Microscope with slides
• Board games
• Cooking appliances
• T-Mobile-powered, infini-data hotspot devices that can fit in your pocket and provide Internet

People are baffled when I say I use the library. They're brainwashed by big tech to think that "no one uses that now" . Pretty frustrating since its the only 3rd space left and people are trying to get it shut down (why should MY taxes pay for that!! We have INTERNET ).

I hate people.

I collect library cards like other people collect Pokémon cards. The more I get, the more audiobooks are available to me through apps like Libby.

If you happen to live in Berlin, Vöbb's digital subscription is 10 euros year but it gets you things like statista and pressreader that would would cost hundreds of euros per month combined.

And if you don't it's possible your local library also has a similar offer.

A well run library is an amazing thing.

My local library is right next to a couple schools and, in the afternoons, functions as a really wholesome third space for a fair number of kids. Both free and hopefully inspires several of them to get into reading as a hobby.

Even if I didn't use the library, that would be an excellent use of my tax dollars.

A lot of them come with free access to Kanopy or Hoopla which are streaming services with movies and TV shows that you log into with your library card

Shout out to my local library. Manchester Central Library.

Even has pianos you can play with headphones.

1.6M+ book and volumes. Also holds our records for Manchester going back to like the 1200s. Truly beautiful place and great to just wonder around.

Some even have 3D printers

Libraries are theft. A person reads a book and the same book is given to another person! Libraries, on average steal [arbitrary number] from publishers.

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I made once the dumb mistake of getting my library card right before moving to another city, and never ever checked if it's valid or repurposable since (three years now).

Well, time to fix that!

Someone reposting this like a year ago actually was what got me to get mine. Now I use Libby and get audiobooks etc from the library, it’s pretty sweet and was all free.

For some reason all 5 libraries in distance of me close at 6pm and I work until 9pm so yeah.

Register online if you can.

my local library recently introduced a library of things and they've hit a fucking homer. It's all either things you need for like 2 weeks out of 5 years (like a machine for laminating paper), expensive hobby stuff you can try out before you drop your own cash on it (like sewing machines or button makers) or full-on throwing a rager equipment (like a karaoke machine). It is such a perfect mix of things to get on a library model. If I ever win the lottery or something I'm buying them a whole makerspace department with staff and all the equipment you could dream of.

Some places will issue library cards if you work in the city but don't live there just as an fyi.

Some systems let you check out and sync to an e-reader too, kobos work with my system but I think there's other ways to get then on there.

Our local library aside from books provides spaces for making things

Our library was an awesome source independent and foreign films. They were perfect shape bc so underused. We took out 10 at a time.

Damn I can't believe people have this and don't take advantage of it. As someone who lives in a developing country, even in a big city we don't have the concept of a public library. I can't even find books I want anywhere and shipping costs more than the book itself, which is huge if you factor in the difference in currency. I just read digital books now but it's tricky especially for complex philosophical books where you want to go back and forth. Paper books make engaging with complex books easier.