Issue Date: January 18, 2009
MoneySmart |
WALECIA KONRAD |
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Use the library to save
When we published the cover story "How to Save on Nearly Everything" last summer, two of our astute readers -- Becky Darnell of Morning View, Ky., and Suzanne Cline of Sidney, Ohio -- pointed to a dynamite money saver that we had overlooked: the public library.
Most libraries lend CDs, DVDs, videos, audio books and all kinds of stuff for kids. You can use free high-speed Internet to surf the Web to find even more savings. No wonder library card registration is at an all-time high, says the American Library Association's Jim Rettig. Here, he and our readers highlight other free library services.
Online borrowing and renewals. Download audio books, music and movies straight from your library's website (and save on gas). Avoid late fees by logging on at home to renew that Russian classic you haven't quite finished.
Expert help. Many libraries offer assistance with job searches, homework and tax returns.
Classes. Learn everything from how to write poetry or knit to basic computer skills and foreign languages.
Check your local branch's website to see what's available.
Want to know more about your local public library? Click here.
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