We explain how the services on offer at your local library can help you to save money.
Your local public library is a resource open to all, offering many useful services free of charge. As well as the collection of free reading material every library houses, many now offer free internet access and the opportunity to rent DVDs and CDs at very reasonable prices.
You could easily save money by taking advantage of the facilities at your library rather than buying from the high street. Joining your library is free of charge and you can use the facilities as often as you like.
Many libraries now have online interfaces allowing you to return or take items out easily, or browse the catalogue of items available. Of course if you’d rather interact with a person, library staff are always on hand with help and advice.
You can also conveniently renew items online from home, or reserve books that you’d like to borrow next time you visit. If you can’t find the book you’d like, many libraries will allow you to order it in from another library (for a small charge).
Find out the opening hours of your library; some have late openings in the evenings so that you can visit later if it isn’t convenient in the day. Find your local library’s online information on the UK Public Libraries website, such as opening hours and catalogues of books available.
Make sure to make a note of the date your items are due back to avoid being fined – although these fines aren’t usually steep, it’s an easily avoidable cost.
Many libraries can now even deliver books to your home if you are housebound, and many offer books for those with hearing or visual impairments.
What’s on offer?
Read for free
Of course the greatest resource available at your local library is book-borrowing. Most libraries will have an extensive and diverse collection to choose from. You can usually borrow up to 12 or so books at a time and keep them for up to a month.
If you want to borrow a book for a longer period of time, you can do so, as long as you renew it before it’s due to be returned. Nowadays it’s even easier to keep books for longer because many libraries allow you to renew items online, or by phone, unless there is a particular demand for that item.
Libraries have a diverse range of reading material such as new releases, all kinds of genres, children’s books, travel guides, maps; even musical score. Your local library will usually have a wealth of information on local history and culture too.
You can make the most of this service by borrowing instead of buying. Figure out if you really need to buy a book – if you will only read it once, or use it solely for reference, then why not just borrow it? You’ll probably find that you didn’t need to buy it after all.
For instance, if you are planning a holiday you might normally buy a travel guide from a bookshop, but you’d save money and get the same information if you borrowed a travel guide from the library instead.
Most libraries have a selection of magazines and newspapers too. Instead of buying these items, you might find it easier (not to mention more cost-effective) to browse through the ones available at your library. Many libraries now have coffee shops too, so that you can have a coffee whilst browsing the news or the tabloids (although the coffee itself is yet to be offered for free!)
Surf for free
If you can’t get online at home, or just don’t fancy paying extra for internet on your utilities bill, your local library can offer you internet access for free. Most libraries now have several computers with internet access for online shopping, bidding, surfing, emailing, or whatever you want to do.
If you want to ensure a computer is available to use at a particular time, you can book a slot in advance by phone, online, or in person. Taking advantage of this local free and easily accessible facility could save you a lot of money on internet bills in the long term.
Watch DVDs
For a fraction of the cost of high street DVD rentals, you can borrow DVDs from most local libraries. There are often new releases available as well as old classics, world cinema, and a selection of children’s DVDs. You’ll even be able to rent entire series of your favourite TV shows.
The collection won’t be as exhaustive as those offered by high street DVD retailers, but if you are looking for a movie to rent for the night it’s well worth having a glance through what’s on offer in your local library. If there is a film that you’d like to see but don’t anticipate watching it more than once, it’s much better value for money to borrow instead of buy. Library rental prices are usually about £1 and allow you to keep the DVD of your choice for a week.
Play games
Along with film and music rentals, you can also rent games for Wii, PS2, PS3 and more at your local library. For a similar price to renting library DVDs or CDs, you can try out new games or re-visit old ones. You may find that you prefer to borrow than buy games if you only play them for a short time before losing interest.
Some libraries also now have a scheme in place that offers you the chance to purchase some music, film, VHS, and software at a fraction of its retail price.
Join in with your local community
Other free services offered by libraries include scheduled story-time for children, and workshops for adults on a variety of subjects. There is also usually an assortment of book clubs run at your local library, which can be a good way to extend your interests (and your social life) for free. Check with your local library to find out what services are offered near you.
Expand your learning
As well as the obvious range of reference books and encyclopaedias available in your local library, there are many other ways that you can expand your learning for free. You could learn a language by borrowing audio language courses rather than buying them, or read up on your local history to find out more about where you live.
Most libraries will offer a secluded space for studying, but this isn’t just for students – there’ll usually be a comfortable place where you can simply sit and enjoy a book away from the outside hustle and bustle. Libraries are always peaceful places where you can work or study without interruption, in an environment that is conducive to thought and learning.
More information about the services available at your local library is available on the Direct.gov website.
