I started reading more a couple years ago - like a lot more. One day my wife (who paid the bills) said "I don't want to discourage you from a healthy hobby in any way, but I want to make sure you know that you've spent close to $300 on books in the last few months. I had not realized it was that much. I started looking into alternatives and someone here on Lemmy mentioned the Libby app. I live in Los Angeles county and it turns out I'm legitimately allowed to have an LA city library card, an LA county library card, and a San Bernardino county library card (theirs are available to anyone who lives in the state).

I got all three and connected them to the Libby app. When I search for a book, it will check all the libraries I have cards for. So far this year I've read more than 50 novels (well, a few of them were novellas, but a few of them were really long novels, so it balances). I'm a big fan.

My local library has Nintendo Switch, they have 3d printers you can use and classes you can take, tools you can check out, the books are great but it's basically like a whole new world in there.

It is what organizations should be, if everyone wasn't busy trying to upsell you to the $25/mo tier all the time.

Having a library card has saved me in the past when I've needed to print something last minute and my printer wasn't working.

I've also made use of digital magazine subscriptions with them in the past.

Always worth checking out what other services they have, you might be surprised.

Libby for audiobooks.
Kanopy for movies / plays / ballet productions.
Hoopla for music / TV / comics.

Maybe your library has a streaming or podcast setup. 3D printers. Laser cutters.

Or cooking supplies to borrow. Video games. Vacuum cleaners. Laptops. Wi-Fi. Car maintenance tools. Whatever.

Libraries are the best.

They even have board games.

BOARD GAMES.

I do everything I can to support my library. They are such an important resource. I also like e close to a good library that let's you not only check out media, but also let's you check out board games, power tools, cake molds, seed, and even neckties.

1. Promotes library cards
2. Writes 'ur' instead of, you know, words.

Video games, cricuts, tool kits, baking pans, calligraphy sets, sewing machines, yoga/tai-chi classes, etc, etc, etc. Libraries can have a million things and you’ll never know until you come in and find out.

also because i've heard some horror stories of people not getting library cards because they didn't understand the social contract of libraries: "rent" isn't the word most of us use because "rent" implies you fork over money to use the resource. libraries lend. they let you have the media, or the knowledge, or the entertainment and only expect that in return you use it to enrich your life. that through this interaction you become a little more wholly the person you were always meant to be