All the free things you can get with a simple library card!
Living within modest means and a budget doesn’t have to mean you miss out on all of the fun! Finding free resources and events in the community can help you save money for essential expenses and emergencies, yet still, give you the opportunity to engage in community activities or events that can enrich your life without straining your budget.
One of the best resources in many communities with free rentals, things to do, services and more is the library! You may be surprised when we tell you how much they truly have to offer.
Using free resources at your local library offers numerous benefits:
- Access to Knowledge: Libraries provide a vast collection of books, magazines, academic journals, and digital resources, granting you access to a wealth of knowledge on various subjects.
- Free Reading Material & Being Environmentally Friendly: Borrowing books and other reading materials from the library saves you money on purchasing new books, especially if you're an avid reader. By checking out books versus buying new, it means you’re doing good for our environment by reducing and reusing!
- Educational Support: Libraries often offer educational programs, workshops, and other educational services that can help students and learners of all ages enhance their knowledge and skills. Taking advantage of these opportunities can help you or your children learn and grow without additional expenses.
- Digital Resources: Many libraries provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, online courses, research databases, and other digital resources, expanding your learning opportunities.
- Entertainment and Relaxation: Libraries offer a diverse selection of movies, music, and other forms of entertainment that you can borrow for free.
- Community Events: Libraries host community events, such as book clubs, author talks, story time for children, and workshops, fostering a sense of community.
- Technology Access: Libraries often have computers and internet access available for public use, which can be especially beneficial for those who don't have access to these resources at home.
- More Than Just Books: Many libraries now offer rentals & reservations of more than just books, from projects, meeting rooms, radon readers, vehicle computer readers & more. Just another added benefit to an already awesome organization.
- Preservation of Culture: Libraries play a vital role in preserving historical documents, local archives, and cultural heritage for future generations to explore and appreciate.
Did you know that the Stark Library has all of this and more? The Stark Library has 10 branch locations, this means they’re never far from home, here are some of the services, and resources at your local Stark Library (and all that you need to access them is a FREE Stark Library card!):
*You can find all of the library’s resources and details at their website here, https://www.starklibrary.org/
- Imagination Library: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Ohio mails free books monthly to children from birth to age five, helping them become more kindergarten ready and setting them on a path for early educational success.
- Notary: Living trusts and wills, deeds, car sales…whenever you have a situation where you need to prove that your signature is really yours, don’t waste time googling “notary” to figure out where to go and how much it might cost. Instead, take advantage of the Library’s FREE notary services. (Don’t forget CSE for your notary needs.) Both CSE and the Stark Library have professional, state-licensed notaries on staff to certify your signature on documents.
- Museum Passes: Museums and the Library go together like peanut butter and jelly! Did you know that you can use your Library card to gain FREE access to some of the top tourist draws in Stark County such as the McKinley Presidential Library and Museum and the Canton Museum of Art
- Genealogy Resources: Discover how the past connects to your present while exploring the branches of your family tree. The library will help you find your answers FREE, with their trained staff, plus they offer excellent resources and some of the best subscription databases AT NO CHARGE. All you need is a Library card.
- Events: From children’s story time, crafts, meet & greets with football legends, popular authors, animals, and more, there are plenty of events to feed your needs. Don’t forget the clubs as well: book clubs, chess club, and knitting club just to name a few.
- Library of Things: You’d never guess what you can borrow NOW! A LOT will surprise and delight you in their Library of Things. Fun, useful, unexpected items that go way beyond books!
- Giant Jenga, Giant Tic-Tac-Toe, Giant Connect Four, Ukulele
- Telescopes (Tripod), Telescopes (Tabletop)
- Student Driving Cones
- Kill-A-Watt Electricity Monitor Meter
- Vehicle Diagnostic Code Reader
- Digital HD Projector
- Air Quality Monitor
- Internet2Go / Wi-Fi Hotspots
- Radon Detector
- Rooms! (Not hotel rooms, but meeting space for just about anything)
- Streaming Services: Enjoy movies, TV shows, eBooks, eMagazines, and more from the Library without ever leaving your home! With your Library card, you can access it all FREE, using their apps – hoopla, Kanopy, Libby, and Flipster.
Being on a budget doesn't mean missing out on meaningful experiences. Embrace the wealth of free opportunities at your local library to improve your quality of life with a wide array of educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities while managing your finances responsibly.
Head to your local library today, or check out the complete details on all of the listed programs, services, events, and more visit https://www.starklibrary.org/
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