Photo of spaniel dog with his nose in a book, reading.

20 Reasons I Love My Public Library + Podcast

Posted on by da-AL
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bKmdGi98yHTSe70pLcbyf?si=993c577cbeac467f

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Photo of spaniel dog with his nose in a book, reading.
Photo by 2Photo Pots on Unsplash

How often do you use your public library? Books are my idea of heaven (I’m currently hard at work, researching and querying literary agents to find a great one to represent my two novels) and libraries my cathedrals.

Here’s why the library system here in Los Angeles is among the best…

  1. All services are entirely free!
  2. They don’t even charge overdue fines!
  3. Any California resident is entitled to a Los Angeles County Public Library card, obtainable in-person or online.
  4. Visitors can browse, and cardholders can borrow in-person or online — materials from hard and downloadable audiobooks, magazines, music, movies, and more.
  5. Los Angeles County has nearly 100 libraries, including bookmobiles. Free of charge, they’ll deliver books from one site to another.
  6. Anyone physically challenged can have items delivered to their homes.
  7. Some locations lend out tools, such as gardening equipment.
  8. Several sites lend the use of computer programs for recording, editing, and designing.
  9. A few libraries have recording sound booths and practice rooms.
  10. Vocational and fun classes are available online and at their facilities — many online ones engage real teachers.
  11. There’s live online homework tutoring.
  12. Online tutors will even proofread and critique anything from resumes and term papers, to essays and letters.
  13. Give them a phone call, online chat, or email them, and they’ll also help.
  14. Job seekers and business owners have a myriad of resources.
  15. Enjoy fun on-site events — music, crafts, reading, and workshops.
  16. Over the summer, kids get free lunches.
  17. Lonely or just want to be cozy and quiet? Come on in!
  18. Meeting spaces can be used by groups and tutors.
  19. Get help obtaining a high school diploma.
  20. Wifi, computers, and printers are complimentary.
  21. You can even borrow their wifi from their parking lots!
  22. Photocopying fees are nominal.
  23. Their free streaming services include music and videos, many too obscure to find elsewhere.
  24. They offer frequent zoom events on computer skills, author talks, job training, and more. The ones I’ve participated in were as fun as they were educational.
  25. Did I already mention that all their services are free of charge?
Photo of spaniel dog with his nose in a book, reading.
Photo by 2Photo Pots on Unsplash

Do you use your public library?

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Published by da-AL

Happiness Between Tails speaks to and from the heart. It connects lovers — of pets, authors, books — and of my still-unreleased novels, “Flamenco + the Sitting Cat” and “Tango + the Sitting Cat.” The stories are my love letters to all who fear they're too odd, too damaged, too old, too whatever to find happiness. ContactdaAL@gmail.com • BuyMeACoffee.com/SupportHBT

56 thoughts on “20 Reasons I Love My Public Library + Podcast”

  2. Hi da-AL I am very envious. Our public libraries are not well stocked at all. The books are from years ago, pre-1990 most of them. I used a library s bit when Greg was small but we ran through there stock of books quickly. That was when I started buying ebooks.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank goodness ebooks don’t cost much. Your libraries sound like how ours were up until the 1990s, when new tax laws were passed. I’m continually amazed by how much we get these days and how current our selections are. Not all US states are the same. To my mind, ours are a fantastic example of taxes put to great effect, helping individuals in ways that help everything else as a result

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I absolutely love my public library. Like you, I have dozens of reasons but here are a few ways my local branches have enriched the lives of my family. When my kids were little, we checked out mountains of picture books. We’d literally walk out of the library with 30+ books and then be back in a few days for another round.

    My kids came to cherish the library and became avid readers. Our library is so skilled at providing programs for all ages that even when they were in high school, my teens would make plans to meet friends at the library because of an interesting craft table that was free or a book swap or a competition of some sort. When you’re the mother of teenagers that want to hang out at the library, you know you’re hooked into a good thing!

    I live in Ann Arbor, population around 120,000. So, not a big city by any means. Yet, our library’s foreign language collection is incredible! I am in awe of the French stacks. I’ll never be able to get through all the titles that appeal to me. When I started studying French, I would check out their kid’s books. I advanced to young adult and graphic novels. There, I can also find many of today’s French bestsellers as well as classics. Also French audio books. It’s really incredible.

    I refer to our library as a candy store for the mind.

    Liked by 1 person

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