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SAVE MONEY USING YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY   Did you know that your local library is supported by your tax dollars?   That means that you are paying for the service they provide, so if you are not taking advantage of it, you are missing out. The library can be a valuable resource for you, and can save you hundreds of dollars a year, or even more. Here are some ideas on how to get the most out of your library.   VIDEOS   One of my favorite money-saving ideas is to check out videos from your library instead of renting. Your local library, especially in a larger area, is probably cheaper (often free), and may offer longer check out periods (ours is a week).   If your library has a computerized system, make sure you reserve the videos you want early, especially new videos. Many times, the library will enter new videos into their system when they are still on order, so if one you want is scheduled to be released soon, you will want to get on the list right away.   Using your library for videos is especially good for videos that have been out awhile (at least a year or two). In our area, there are over 30 libraries connected in the library system, so I can request a video, and whichever library has a copy available will send it over in a day or two.   Tip: I have found that some libraries charge a rental fee, and others don’t. I have also found that if you check out the video from a branch that doesn’t charge, that they will not charge a rental fee even if the video came from a library that normally does charge a fee.   This is also a great way to let your kids watch a variety of kids’ videos (such as Winnie the Pooh, Barney, Sesame Street, etc.) without having to invest in an entire library of videos yourself. After a week, return the videos and get a new set of videos.   The library should also have a number of educational videos, both for kids and adults. This is a great way to see which Phonics video will hold your child’s attention before you buy it.   MUSIC   How many times have you bought a CD because of a single song you heard, only to discover that the song you liked is the only good one on the album?   Or perhaps you don’t want to spend the money for a CD without knowing all the songs. Or maybe you heard a song you liked on the radio, but want to hear more from the same artist.   Whatever the reason, your library probably carries a good sized collection of music on cassettes and CDs, including some of the hottest new titles. This is a great opportunity to check out a new artist or a new album before you decide to purchase the CD.   It also gives you a chance to try out a new artist to decide if you like it. After listening to the CD for a week or two, you can decide if you want to buy it for your own collection. This is also a great place to try out some new holiday music, but reserve copies early, since in December, the Christmas music gets snatched up pretty fast!   Please note, however, that music is protected by copyright laws, and it is illegal to copy a tape or CD that you don’t own.   MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS   I used to subscribe to a ton of periodicals. What I realized was that in most cases, most of the issues were glanced at, then tossed in a box, basket, or on top of my desk for later reading, which often never happened until much later (I still have copies of Inc. magazine from two years ago that I’ve never read).   First, I decided which magazines I did read regularly or wanted to keep for reference. These consisted primarily of a weekly newsmagazine, and my woodworking magazines, since the projects in those never go out of date, and I enjoy collecting woodworking projects. I renewed the subscriptions to those, and let the rest lapse.   Second, I started checking out magazines from the library. While most libraries won’t let you check out the current issue, they will let you check out back issues for one to four weeks. I would also glance through newspapers and current issues of magazines to see if there was any info I needed right away.   This worked out great, since I was still able to read the articles I wanted, but it saved money, saved paper (if you stacked up all the magazines I used to get in a year, they would equal a large tree!), and saved space at home. Plus, since I didn’t have to pay for a subscription, it allowed me to look at and read other magazines that I wouldn’t have otherwise.   A final note on newspapers: I enjoy reading the newspaper everyday. However, when you ad up the expense of a daily newspaper over the course of a year, it can add up. Also, think about all the paper you use receiving a daily paper. Here are two ways to save on newspaper costs, besides reading them at the library.   First, analyze what information you get from the newspaper. Then see if it is available online, if you have Internet access. Most information that you would need right away can be gotten easily on the Internet. I can get local news, weather, sports, and stock updates on a daily basis on my home page. My favorite part of the paper is the comics section, and there are even a number of places on the web to check out the comics, including ones that my local paper doesn’t carry.   You may also want to ask around your friends and coworkers to see if they get the paper and toss it afterwards. You may offer to pay them a minimal amount for each paper they pass on to you, but chances are they will say they just throw them out anyway. If you don’t mind getting your news a day or two late, this would be a great savings for you and for the trees!   If you absolutely have to have your Sunday comics and coupons, consider subscribing only to the Sunday version of the paper, which most daily papers offer. The newspaper company may offer to give you a subscription to the daily paper for a small additional amount, but again, think about how much this will add up to over the course of a year, and think about the amount of paper that is wasted.   If the library doesn’t carry a magazine that you really like, let them know. Many times, libraries have a specific budget for magazine subscriptions and are happy to get suggestions from their customers. The friendly folks at my local library know that woodworking is one of my hobbies, and recently they asked me my recommendation for a woodworking magazine. I gave my opinion, and a month later there was the first issue on the shelf!   BOOKS ON TAPE   I love to check out books on tape whenever I am traveling some distance in my car. I have checked out everything from fiction by my favorite authors, to stories from authors I am unfamiliar with, to non-fiction books. You can also find dramatized programs, such as Louis Lamour’s short stories, and other items such as old time radio programs. Some versions of books on tape are abridged, offering a full-length novel on the space of one or two cassettes. This works out well, since the least necessary (and boring) parts are cut out, and only the exciting “meat” of the story remains.   One tip: The key to enjoying an audio book is not only in the author, but in the person reading the story. A good story reader will use voice changes to speak as different characters in the story, making it a much better listening experience for you. A great book read by an average actor will be a boring literary experience. If you find someone whom you really enjoy, look up that person’s name in your card catalog under “author” to find out if he or she has read any other audiobooks. Many publishers use the same actor for all the audiobooks in a series, which gives a nice sense of consistency and familiarity over the course of several books.   COMPUTER SOFTWARE   Have you ever purchased computer software, only to find out that you got bored with it quickly, or it didn’t serve your needs? Have your kids ever needed to research a certain topic, but you didn’t want to spend $50 for that software on the human body that they may only use for a week? Have you ever wondered which of the Spanish learning software programs was the best?   Did you know that many libraries now carry a variety of software available for checkout? While most of these consist of educational materials, some games and utilities may also be available. If your library is part of a network of libraries (ours has over 30 libraries connected by computer), you can also order software from the other libraries in the network. I have used this software to do research, compare similar programs, and test kids games before buying them.   If you know a specific title you are looking for, you should be able to look at the list of computer software by title (ask your librarian if you are not sure how to do this). You can also search by subject or keyword, if your library offers this. For example, if you wanted to compare Spanish learning programs, you could search for “Spanish” in the title. Or, you could search for “Sesame Street” to bring up all the titles relating to Sesame Street. You may also be able to search by subject, i.e.“languages” or “preschool”.   BOOKS   I know what you’re thinking: “Wow! You mean I can even get regular BOOKS at the library, too?”   In fact, most libraries still actually carry books printed on paper as well! Have you ever purchased a new hardcover book, read it once, then stuck it on a shelf where it sat collecting dust for the next five years only to be sold in a garage sale for 50 cents? With the price of books as high as they are today, it is difficult to justify the purchase of a book that you are only going to read one time. Even softcover books today cost as much as a hardcover did 10 years ago. Why not check it out from the library?   If you like the book so much that you will want to read it again and again, then buy it at a bookstore or online. If the book was good, but you don’t want to buy it, then don’t. You have lost nothing.   The library is also a great place to check out non-fiction or reference books. Building a web page? Which book is the best “how-to” on creating web pages? Check out the Dummies guide, the Complete Idiots Guide, and a dozen others. Spend a little time perusing them, seeing which one has the information you want and presents it in a style that works best for you. This sure beats purchasing a book, only to find out that it’s hard to follow, or it doesn’t have the information you thought it would.   I use the library to check out woodworking books. With so many books on the market, I could spend thousands of dollars on books and barely scratch the surface. Instead of spending $20 on a book that may only have one or two projects I am interested in, I can check out dozens and pick one or two that best fit my interests.   INTERLIBRARY LOAN   Here’s where you can really put your tax dollars to work for you, especially if you live in an area where your library resources are limited, or the library is not electronically connected to other libraries.   Your library can request virtually any book, music tape or CD, or other item, from other libraries. If you know of a book that you want, but your library doesn’t have it, ask the librarian about interlibrary loan. You will probably have to fill out a form with the title, author, and publisher, and then the library can submit this information to other libraries. In most cases, there is no charge for this service. (You may not be able to obtain newly published books through this method, as most libraries prefer to keep their newest books available for their local customers.)   You can also request articles from magazines and newspapers through interlibrary, if your library doesn’t have the periodical you are looking for. You will need to know the name of the magazine, the date and issue, the title of the article, and if you know them, the page or pages the article is on. The library will be able to get you photocopies of the article. There may or may not be a charge for the copies, depending on your library.   CONCLUSION   Your library is a terrific source of FREE information. It offers a great opportunity to “try before you buy” in the case of books, software, and music titles. Using your library can save you a lot of money. You are paying for their services anyway, through your tax dollars, so take advantage of it!   David Barnett, publisher of FOR YOUR FAMILY, a FREE weekly newsletter dedicated to assisting your family to become happier, healthier, wealthier, safer, more loving, and more caring toward each other. To subscribe (it's FREE!), send a blank email to: ForYourFamily-subscribe@egroups.com

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