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There is no such thing as a free lunch, but you can come awfully close to it at your local library. Because it is funded by the city or state or province that you reside in, the local library is able to provide its services for free.

 
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The really great thing though is that it’s not just books that you can find at the library. Did you know your local public library is also a great place to find audio CDs, movies (VHS and DVD), language guides and much more - all for free? Now granted they won’t have the most recent movie titles or your favorite gangster rap record, but they’ll have a lot of popular titles, including the classics that you always wanted to rent but ended up going with the latest release instead.

At most public libraries, all that is required is a driver’s license or some proof of identification that shows you are a resident of the city or state. You can then borrow to your heart’s content. Even extending the time you can keep the book or movie is free. Plus with a library card (for which you may be charged a minimal processing fee e.g. $5) you can get free Internet access.

Your taxes pay for all these services, yet it’s a pity how much of what we pay for never gets used. So this weekend, head down to the library, browse and bulk up on some reading material - I know I certainly will and plan to enjoy every minute of it.

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