#get a library card so you can get hoopla and libby if your libraries have them

[stargazingdustbunny]

Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for public libraries, which let me access hundreds of books, comics, movies, music, and more. I wouldn't be able to read Batman comics without them.

[arson-09]

maybe an unpopular booktwt/booktok/bookstagram opinion but buying limited special editions of a book or book series you havent read is so odd to me. Like theres people who have actually read and want that limited limited edition but you just buy it to look pretty on your shelf. Yeah you can buy books you plan to read but i have seen so many posts of people buying DOZENS of books and just having them on their tbr or displayed on their shelf.

its a big part of the growing issue of overconsumption on booktok/bookstagram/booktwt. Theres nothing wrong with buying a book you like but these people doing expensive book hauls, especially off of amazon (which has tons of its own issues to unpack) are so weird to me.

Support libraries!!! read a book from the library before you buy it!! this benefits way more people in the long run and is much more sustainable.

[jasperxkuromi]

Play ideas for chronically ill, disabled, or otherwise bed bound/low energy littles

Hi all! I am chronically ill. I am not comfortable sharing my specific diagnosis, but I am more than okay with talking about disability in general. Everything below is based on my own personal experiences and activities I like to do while stuck in bed. Everyone's body and experiences are different. I may list some things that just aren't an option for you, and that's okay. You are more than welcome to add on to this post with activities you do too!

🐛 Open the curtains and cloud watch! I like to look for clouds that remind me of animals or characters and day dream a story about them. If the weather is nice, consider opening your window a little bit and letting some fresh air into your room.

🐦 Bird watch! I have a bird feeder outside my window that I painted myself from a kid's kit. There are also bird feeders that have suction cups that can be stuck right on your window. You can also make your own seed ornaments. You could pick yourself up a kids book or two on learning to identify birds.

🌷 Get a window planter. You may need someone's help to set one up, but once they are in place they are fairly easy to care for. I like pansies and marigolds because they remind me of childhood, and they are low maintenance and do well in containers.

📖 Audiobooks are great for middles who want to read chapter books. If you have a library card you can borrow tons of audiobook, ebooks, and comics through hoopla and Libby for free. There are some audiobooks for younger kiddo books, but honestly I think YouTube is better for that.

🖼️ Scrapbooks and journals! Being penpals with another little is also an option, but I do recommend using basic internet safety and common sense. (I don't think you should do this if you are under 18). You could always scan/take pictures of your letter and send it digitally to your penpal instead.

🛏️ If you spend a lot of time in bed, and have the money to do so, I really recommend getting items to make your time in bed more comfortable. Extra pillows, or even a reading pillow can be helpful. Lap desks or bed tables can give you space to color or set up play scenes with small toys.

🌟 You can also decorate the area around your bed to make it more child like! Fairy lights, glow in the dark stars, bed canopies, posters, and the like.

🪑 I have a floor chair I use for times I am playing outside of my bed. Being close to the floor helps me feel small, but not having back support hurts after a short while. I have an adjustable one that I can lay flat on the floor as a sleeping mat. Very helpful for the times when I need a quick nap after playtime.

🎨 Check the seasonal and kids sections at dollar stores and Five Below. I usually find fun craft kits that can keep me occupied for a bit for really cheap.

🧶 Do your own crafts! I like the knit and crochet. Some people can do them in bed, but I find it difficult to find a comfortable way to do that. However making friendship bracelets in bed works out pretty well. They make great gifts, even for non little friends. Or you could make matching ones for you and your CG or favorite plushie!

🪀 Make your own sensory bin! You can find tons of tutorials and ideas online. Bonus is you can get most of the items you would use at the dollar store. There are tons of other DIY sensory toys you can make as well if you look around. Glitter/shaker bottles are pretty popular too.

🐇 Cuddle with your stuffed animals. Tell them stories. Play pretend. Read to them. They will appreciate all of it.

🎮 If you have an old 3DS stuffed away in a drawer somewhere, pull it back out. 3DS are fairly easy to install homebrew and there are toooons of kiddo friendly games you could get (check 3ds.hacks.guide for this, do not follow tutorials on YouTube or random websites as they very well could be outdated)

💊 Decorate your medicine organizers with stickers. If you use mobility aids you can decorate them as well! Fake flowers are great for decorating mobility aids and there are tons of ideas you can find online.

🍼 I have stomach problems that makes it hard for me to eat enough. I often drink Ensure to make sure I am getting enough calories/nutrients. I get the strawberry flavor and sometimes put it in my sippy cup and pretend it is strawberry milk 😋

😴 If you need rest, rest! You deserve to get as much sleep as your body needs. Babies and toddlers take naps all the time! Trying to just exist with chronic health issues is difficult enough. You don't need to push yourself.

[queerromancerecs]

Non Amazon book resources

Look, I know Amazon is a sensitive topic. It has been allowed to dominate the market, and for indie writers, it is a huge (if not their main) source of income. Personally, as an indie writer, I have tried to always keep my work available elsewhere (because you can't trust Amazon not to screw you over, I mean just look at Audible. For those who don't know, Audible royally fucks over authors, and the narrators don't do that great either). But even for me, the loss of Amazon sales would highly affect my ability to keep going without getting another job or three. So I get it. Nonetheless, they cannot be trusted not to drop queer writers and readers, so it's best to have alternatives now.

If you are a reader or an indie author looking for different platforms to buy and/or sell books, even if only to start branching out a little, here is a list.

I doubt it's comprehensive. Feel free to reblog with more.

Kobo and Kobo Plus -Kobo is the biggest online 'Zon alternative. Kobo Plus is sort of like KU. On either one, you get points for buying books and can use the points to get more books. Works for ebook and audiobooks. (And, if you have a non-Kindle ereader, it works for Kobo but it also works for like, fanfiction. I'm just saying. I got a refurbished Kobo a while ago and it's lovely.)

Bookshop.org -print as well as ebooks

Smashwords/Draft2Digital - mostly ebooks but D2D does have a print option

Itch.io - ebook only (but gives a larger chunk of profits to authors than 'Zon does. Authors take note.)

Gumroad

Rainbow Crate -special edition print queer books. (I know there was some controversy with them but I am out of touch and don't know what it was, and most people who use them seem happy with them??? but if you know other queer/romance book crate services, lemme know)

The Ripped Bodice -brick and mortar stores but you can also shop online

Check out your local bookstores---many will order print copies for you if you request them

The authors' websites if they do direct sales

Barnes & Noble- yeah, it's a corporation and they are not great either, but it's not Amazon and sometimes a well-meaning relative gets you a gift card. And, for the moment, they do in fact sell queer romance. I know because I just used a gift card to get a paperback of The Prince and the Assassin. lol

Powell's Books- Portland's famous book store sells new and used books (and you can browse the stock online) --print only. They sell queer romance as well. I got a copy of Drag Me Up by RM Virtues there. That's not super relevant, but I was pleased :)

New link: Queer Books Weekly-- free and affordable books with queer protagonists

Also consider library books!

And for those in America--you can use library apps to read books. Yes, the authors still get paid! Libby is a big one. You can get audiobooks too, AND it can connect you with the Queer Liberation Library.

Also there is Hoopla - digital content

In Europe, I know there is Vivlio, which is French and I believe sells ereaders and also ebooks.

[coinandcandle]

Coin's Resources for Research

Here's a list of my personal favorite resources for researching witchcraft, magic, and the occult!

Websites

Sacred Texts - This site is a collection of electronic texts about religion, mythology, legends and folklore, and occult and esoteric topics. Almost all of it is in the English language (translated) and when possible they give the original language (which is quite often)!

Jstor - Home to thousands of scholarly content. While there are limitations to the open and free content on the site, they still have quite a lot to offer! If you can afford the paid version I highly suggest you do so.

Wikipedia - I don't care what your high school lit teacher told you, Wikipedia is a great resource and a wonderful way to find where to start when you're learning a new topic. 

Encyclopedia Britannica - A fact-checked online encyclopedia with hundreds of thousands of objective articles, biographies, videos, and more.

Hoopla - A digital library where you can borrow books, audio books, and more! It's connected to your local library so make sure you get a library card!

Libby - Same situation as Hoopla.

Worldcat - A website that helps you track down reliable sources that you can only find in libraries.

PDFDrive - A website with thousands of free pdfs. It doesn't always have what I'm looking for but it's always worth a shot to check!

Youtube

Esoterica - Run by Dr. Justin Sledge, Esoterica is a channel that discusses the arcane in history, philosophy, and religion.

Angela's Symposium - Dr. Angela Puca's channel where she covers peer-reviewed research and scholarship on magic, witches, esoteric traditions, the occult, Paganism, shamanism and related currents.

ReligionForBreakfast - Dr. Andrew M. Henry's channel that discusses--you guessed it--religion! His goal is to improve the public's religious literacy by exploring humanity's beliefs and rituals through an anthropological, sociological, and archaeological lens. 

Misc

Ronald Hutton - Hutton is an invaluable resource and a fantastic historian. He writes the facts without being pretentious and is often quite funny too! 

Wiki's List of Occult Writers

Wiki's List of Occult Terms

[catalystcorvid]

Where to Find Free, Legal Books

If you have access to a public library and/or have college credentials;

Libby - Ebooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines from your public library. Free, but requires a library card. Materials aren't infinite, so popular titles will often have a several week long waitlist. If you're in the US (or sufficiently crafty) you can sign up for a free card from the Queer Liberation Library.

Hoopla - Another service often bundled with a library card. The selection is smaller than Libby, but you have a limited number of instant borrows per month to cash in.

EBSCOhost Research - Ebooks and research materials, usually offered through a college. Where I do most of my reading lately, TBH.

Worldcat - Browse the world’s libraries from one search box. Easiest way to find out where to go to check out a book if you can't find it at your usual spot.

US residents will likely have a public library near them, but if you cannot go in person and sign up, there are a number of public libraries that don't require anything but a local address to get an Ecard. The libraries that offer this change frequently, so ask around.

Also keep in mind that US public libraries don't typically purchase self published material. If you're looking for your favorite tumblr author's book, you might want to try the links below instead.

If you can't get a library card (or couldn't find what you're looking for)

Open Library - Large collection of ebooks. Some materials may not be available currently due to ongoing legal issues.

Project Gutenburg - Another huge collection of ebooks, probably the most well-known option on this list.

Standard Ebooks - Professionally formatted public domain ebooks (sourced from places like Project Gutenburg but then turned into dynamic epubs)

LibriVox - Public Domain Audiobooks. Extremely limited library, but provides a rare service.

Audible Free Trial - Amazon offers a free trial of their service, with one free title on signup. You need a viable payment method to get access, but you keep the book even after you cancel. Don't give Amazon your money, folks.

I'd also recommend trawling youtube and soundcloud for user-made audiobooks. The quality varies, but I've been surprised at the results.

Other cool resources

StoryGraph - A non-Amazon GoodReads alternative, for those who like to challenge themselves to read more or enjoy writing book reviews.

Banned books list - Around since 1994 and currently still updated weekly, this site showcases books that are either banned or have been attempted to have been banned somewhere in the US. Some are available to read for free on site.

[cottagecore-raccoon]

Reasons to Make a Library Card

(A list written by someone who has worked at a public library in the states for a year now)

Books/Traditional Materials: As you've likely heard many times before, libraries are a great place to get free books (normal and large print), DVDs, CDs, magazines, and audiobooks

E-Library: With your library card, you will also be to access Ebooks on websites like Hoopla and Libby. Library streaming services like Kanopy will also allow you to watch movies and tv shows for free! On top of these websites, libraries pay for subscriptions to databases like Creativebug that have tutorials for learning new crafts

Programming: Making new friends can be difficult, and finding fun things to do is expensive! Libraries offer fun programs for people to do activities (like crafts, yoga, dancing, and book clubs) and meet new friends! Most programs are free, and many libraries don't require you to have a library card to participate. Have a program you'd like to do but don't see on the website calendar? Many libraries are happy to take suggestions!

Free Wifi: In addition to free wifi and computers offered in the building, the library where I work also offers mobile hotspots patrons can check out for free wifi on the go. These devices are quite popular, so you may need to wait on a list, but they are a great resource for people who otherwise may not have access to the internet

Other Resources: Passes to local museums, video games (my library has a switch game collection), educational materials for all ages, and more!

You making a library card and using these resources helps libraries stay open and get the funding they need! Please use libraries, they're there for you!

[goodluckclove]

Finding Banned Books Online: Actual Resources

Hey, it's me - a version of Clove who is now able to access their anger through means I am not going to delve into on a public space. Hello!

I have continued to get myself very upset over the people who tear apart anyone who makes the vaguest attempt to support, or even provide mixed opinions on the IA lending library. They insist there are so many ways to do this already through resources provided by libraries, but don't actually say any of those solutions.

Because Google is free, right? It's free and definitely still a viable way to easily access information. We all agree Google is normal and reliable, and that people these days actually know how to manipulate search terms in a way that effectively provides information. That's why it's such a great thing to say when people ask questions instead of actually providing information that could easily solve the problem in your favor. Great!

Anyways, I went ahead and did research so I can offer an actual guide to people looking to access - in this case specifically banned books - without the aid of piracy or the Internet Archive. These are programs created by libraries, fully legal, though admittedly not always the easiest to access.

The Palace Project: Banned Books Club

This seems to be the best option I was able to find. It's an app created by the Digital Public Library of America where you can access a variety of digital library archives, including the Banned Books Club. You don't need address or proof of ID - you don't even need your legal name.

You get a digital barcode you can use to access books for about 20 days at a time. They have a vast collection of e-books and audiobooks, as well as a bevy of fiction and nonfiction. Cool!

Brooklyn Public Library: Books UnBanned

If you're a young person in the United States who has their apps monitored, this is another alternative. The Brooklyn Public Library waives out-of-state e-card fees for youth that last a year (You might be able to reapply).

They cover you from 13-21, assuming you can work up the nerve to apply directly by emailing them, or messaging them on their youth-led Instagram account (@bklynfuture).

The Uncensored Library

Are you outside the United States? Do you have a computer that runs Minecraft? This is not technically a way to read Ulysses or The Hate You Give, but The Uncensored Library is a massive world seed dedicated to preserving (I think mainly) journalistic articles covering news in countries where censorship is way more prominent. This is an outlier to my point but it kicks ass and I think it has a place on this list.

There are other options out there like Hoopla, but it looks like a lot of them require an existing library card number. Libby has a nice UI thing that guides you towards the options in making an online library card for a local branch, assuming that's something you are able to do.

This is what I was able to find through about 45 minutes of searching. If someone else has an additional insight I would LOVE to add it. Libraries are working so, so hard to provide as much of a reach as they can, but unfortunately it's difficult to spread awareness without Spreading Awareness, if you know what I mean.

At the same time, if you're a person who is just spouting that these resources exist without either naming what they are and/or acknowledging that there are a small small small handful of options - it definitely seems like you're less interested in sharing information to encourage a positive change, and more invested in looking right and informed.

I spent almost an hour to find two actual sources to share. If I wanted to read a book I didn't have access to, it would be infinitely easier to give up. It is so fucking easy not to make the effort to read a book that could potentially change your life. It's so fucking easy just to not read! So hopefully this helps someone expand their horizons in a meaningful way, or just have better access to a library system that they might not otherwise have!

[sharkji]

I LOVE LIBRARIES

With the incoming trend of people wanting to learn mandarin and move to xiaohongshu, I want to promote YOUR local library!

I am a big fan of danmei and cdramas. So I have already been thinking about learning mandarin just so I can read/watch untranslated material. I felt like this (amazing) shift was my sign to get started.

I live in between two towns, so I technically have 2 local libraries, and both of them are spectacular- I feel spoiled. I went to both of their websites and looked at their online learning resources. With just my library card, I was able to sign up for 2 different language learning websites!

Don't sleep on your local library! Check out their resources. If your local library isn't doing so well (still support them! They need you to use their resources/services for funding!) But try looking up other libraries from nearby towns or just anywhere in the country that allows a free non-resident card. Or, if you are willing to pay a fee, there are more options. Check out their websites for their online resources! And if you enjoy reading digital books, you can also try checking out their selection on Hoopla and Libby!

I love libraries so much. They are the reason I have been able to read so much physical manga in my life (thank you state-wide inter-library loan programs!) Please check out your local library!!

[queerliblib]

Hi, I really love what y'all are doing and it has really helped me get back into reading books, other than fanfiction lol, and I wanted to say thank you and that I really appreciate y'all so much!! I also wanted to ask if y'all knew about any other libraries that can be accessed on libby for free, I'm based in Texas if that helps. If not no worries!! Also love the new merch!! I'm so getting that shirt. I'm excited to see how keep growing!! <3<3

Hello! awww that’s so sweet, thank you so much! we’re so delighted your reading is flourishing <3

I believe Harris County libraries in TX allow library card sign ups no matter where you live. There’s also the Brooklyn unbanned library card (if you fall within the age range of course). Off the top of my head, not sure about all the others, but I know that in this case Reddit is a wealth of information! try r/audiobooks, r/LibbyApp, r/LibbyLibby among others~

and if you’re looking to diversify, some people love Hoopla as well if any of your libraries have it

[myblogforbooks123]

I understand there's been a lot of discourse lately regarding whether you should read classic books, but there's been little to no recommendations for beginners. Not to toot my own horn, but I thought I could help solve this problem. Due to length, I'm going to avoid including my take on the discourse. Below is a list of recommendations. Content warnings are available on StoryGraph.

Recommendations

So, you want to read a classic book but have no idea where to start. I'll start with a list of how to get books for cheap, then I'll recommend some short stories, before finally recommending full books.

Cheap books:

I'd recommend getting a library card first and foremost. This will allow you to not only take home books for free, but to download apps (Libby, Hoopla) that will loan out free ebooks.

If, like me, your local library is inaccessible (nearly all of mine are closed for renovations currently), you can use Thriftbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, Bookoutlet.com, or any other bookseller.

Mass market paperbacks are designed to be cheap, and sellers like Dover Thrift or Signet Classics are incredibly accessible. Puffin Classics are also cheap.

Most classic children's books are cheap. Anne of Green Gables, Aesop's Fables, Grimm's Fairy Tales, The Wind in the Willows, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Hobbit, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Secret Garden, Winnie the Pooh, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, A Wrinkle in Time, The Call of the Wild, many of these can be easily found and are cheap. Don't stick in this section forever though; these are children's books for a reason. This is a good starting point to get into the habit of reading, but move onto adult books as you go.

Short Stories:

Those Who Walk Away From Omelas: a perfect town has a secret. This author has also written tons of other works!

Harrison Bergeron: through the use of physical handicaps, everyone is finally equal. I love this author as well! (And before you get the wrong idea, he isn't a bigot. He's been fighting for Black, disabled, transgender, and LGBTQ rights long before it was socially acceptable.)

The Lottery: everyone in town partakes in a mysterious lottery.

I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream: AI takes over the world and holds five people captive.

The Necklace: a vain woman requires that she wear the highest-quality jewelry to a gathering, and pays a high price for it. If you like plot twists, you have to read this.

The Tell-Tale Heart: a man kills another man, and tries to convince both you and himself that he is sane.

Barbie-Q: a short story about growing up Mexican in poverty, and the beauty standards American society forces on us.

Tell Them Not to Kill Me!: an old man tries to avoid being killed.

Young Goodman Brown: it's been years since I read it, but a Puritan comes across devil worship in the woods.

Books:

Many of these will be novellas, which are shorter books.

I'd also recommend reading the full works of the short story authors you like.

The Stranger: a man who seemingly has no emotions kills someone.

Metamorphosis: Gregor Samsa wakes up one day to find he has turned into a giant bug.

Animal Farm: animals seek to establish a utopia in which everyone is equal.

The Pearl: a poor man finds a pearl that can change his family's life forever. (Warning: this one is particularly graphic.)

The Death of Ivan Ilych: a man who lived a superficial life dies.

A Christmas Carol: Ebenezer Scrooge, a greedy old man, is sent to the past and future to learn from his mistakes.

Siddhartha: an Indian Brahmin leaves everything to look for meaning.

The Giver: a young boy is tasked with holding all of his society's memories.

The Outsiders: a boy and his friend who live in poverty, and who are at constant war with their rich classmates, go too far one night.

Slaughterhouse Five: prisoners of war during World War II are treated like cattle and survive the bombing of Dresden.

Hamlet: a man has to reconcile with his father's death, and his mother's remarriage to his uncle. (If Shakespeare is difficult for you, read the No Fear Shakespeare edition. You can find it for cheap.)

Feel free to read anything apart from this list, and to recommend other works. These are just works I've read and liked.

[littlemsterious]

hey this is a reminder to everyone that if you live in the us or canada or have access to a vpn

GET HOOPLA

it’s a free website and app, you just need a library card.

(most people in the us or canada live within a library district, and you can get a card for free, (it’s paid for with your taxes.) many libraries will allow people outside their country to get a library card for a small fee.)

anyways with a library card, Hoopla gives you access to a crazy number of movies, tv shows, ebooks, audiobooks, comics, music all for FREE!!!!!

it’s a fantastic resource, and there is literally no reason not to get it. also, having a library card helps your local library get more funding.

ALSO ALSO, if the thing you’re looking for is not on hoopla, check your library’s website. a lot of libraries in the US use Libby (which also has an app) but not all of them so check that out.

Library websites will also have ebooks, audiobooks, movies etc. it’s varies more depending on the library but is still completely FREE and 100% worth checking out

[certifiedlibraryposts]

Btw here's a fun life hack for anyone who uses digital library resources like Libby and Hoopla : get as many library cards as possible. If you have multiple library cards you'll have access to more materials since different systems have different items in their digital collections! Check around to see what cards you're eligible for - I know that in my state you can sign up for any county system's card as long as you live or work in the state PLUS we have reciprocal agreements with a few systems from neighboring states so we can get cards there too. Hoard library cards like a library dragon. Luxuriate in your riches.

Collect those things like dang Pokemon cards lets go!!!

[impossibleobservationkryptonite]

Library Rules:

To quote Davy Jones "well they're more guidelines than rules".

What I've learned in time (thus far) working as a librarian and what you can do as a patron.

If you want the TLDR: you can just read the bolded stuff if you want! :)

I swear to god you're allowed to do everything in a library normally if you don't have a library card. The only thing you're not allowed to do is take items home with you. So what can you do instead? Read it here. Watch the movie here (most of the time the people who work here will let you have a guest pass for the computer, and then don't ask you what you're doing with your time on the computer.) (unless you're watching porn. Don't watch porn on a public computer because we will kick you out for the day minimally.)

Come to a Program! Again you do not need a library card to come to our programs. They're chill, they're Gucci. We have so much fun stuff for you to do here. And it's FREE. (To the one person who might see this and be like "BUT MY TAXES!" yeah, your taxes paid for this, why aren't you utilizing the library? Why don't you have your library card? Why aren't you coming to my sick sick writing programs, or my awesome D&D programs?)

Children say odd shit. I had one kid tell me as he was sprinting to a computer, while holding a guest pass to be able to log onto the computer, "I'm gonna shove this up your bootyhole!". He said that verbatim, and honestly respect kid. but also like, hey, I'm just helping you get on the computer, relax. Also if you're going to be working consistently with kids/teens (like me), they're hilarious and are usually much more understanding than the adults.

Every library is different when it comes to creating a program. We have to normally plan months in advance to be able to do something. At the library I'm at we're planning for programs three months ahead while currently running our November Programs.

You can ask questions that you think are stupid. They're not. I promise they're not. I have had people ask me if they can have a sticker while looking at the sign that says "free stickers!!!! HERE!!" Most of the time we'll probably want to research your question and get stoked (or at least I will) by being able to research about whatever you're interested in. (Please ask us what we like to learn about in our free time.)

Sometimes, the book is checked out, because someone got to it before you. Them's the breaks man, we can't go to the person who check it out, and ask them to check it back in so we can check it out to you. However, we can put you on the list to be able to read it next. WITH YOUR LIBRARY CARD. Please get a library card. Can you tell how super chill I am about getting a library card?

Fun Fact! A lot of libraries will let you have temporary library cards. For example you can get a New York Public Library digital card (a temporary one) for 2-3 weeksish before having to go in and getting a physical card. So use it for the couple of weeks! Listen to an audio book!

Another one! I have so many. I'm sorry. You do not need an Audible subscription to be able to read eBooks or listen to Audiobooks on your phone. Use Libby! Just input your library card on the app, and use it like a regular library card. You have to wait until it's your turn (like physical copies of library materials), and then you have the 2-3 weeks to be able to listen to your stuff or read your eBook! And if your library does Hoopla, it's basically the exact same as Libby, however it's only 8 items rather than however many you can check out at once on a library card. Hoopla is a bit more convoluted than that, but if you want to know more just ask!

That's all I got right now. Sorry for the long post. :')

[lakecountylibrary]

This is probably a stupid question, but does using Libby and/or Hoopla help your numbers? Like obviously physically going to my local branch would probably be better, especially for showing that a specific branch is being utilized, but ebooks can be more convenient (if for no other reason then if I need to look up a word lol) and I recently discovered I can stay mostly focused on audiobooks if I up the speed (yay!). I do love libraries (I was actually a page for years) and want to support them more, but I don’t usually have a reason to physically visit.

That's not a stupid question at all, and the answer is good news - YES, your use of our digital/streaming collections helps our numbers!

Both Libby and Hoopla give us numbers on checkouts that we include in our report to the state library every year (Anonymous numbers! We can see how many times a title has circulated but we don't know who is checking out what.)

Going to a library in person is, of course, great, but we're under no illusions that everyone can physically get to us. Don't feel guilty about being a digital-only user - you are not alone by a long shot. That's why we have those collections!

Of course, if you want to help your library even more here are three neat things you can do that probably don't require setting foot in a building (they don't for us, but your library may vary):

Convince your friends to sign up for library cards. Even if they don't plan to use them (we'll hook them eventually). For us, you can sign up for a card entirely online. And being able to go to our politicians and say "Look, 90% of people in our district have a library card!" would be a dream come true.

Attend virtual events from home! I don't know if your library still offers them, but we sure do and attendance is... well, kinda sad. We don't want to stop offering them because we know there are people who rely on them, but it's hard to justify when only one or two people come. You can see our virtual events on our calendar using the filter Event Type: Virtual

Use a database! Database is a stupid word and most of our patrons glaze over and tune out as soon they hear it, but these are tools that we pay a bunch of money for that do really cool things. For cardholders in our district, we provide online access to things like Creativebug, Ancestry, EBSCO, LinkedIn Learning, The New York Times, and about a hundred more all sorted into neat categories right here. You just log in with your card from home. If you find your local library's databases and start poking around and exploring, you will make a reference librarian cry tears of joy. We have to report use numbers on these, too, and getting people to understand how cool and useful they are is an uphill battle!!

So those are my 'How to love your library from a distance' tips. I hope they're helpful, and thank you very much for your ask - and for using your library!

[television-overload]

Hi, do you have the PDF or free version?? I can’t find it in my country 😭😭

I borrowed an e-book copy from the app my local public library uses to host their digital copies of books, so I don't know of any PDF versions. Not sure what resources are available in other countries, but if you have a library card, I'd check and see what app your library uses for e-books and see if you can get it that way! It will depend on whether your library has purchased it, however. If they haven't, you can usually suggest a title for them to add to their collection and they might take your interest into account. My old library used Libby, but where I live now, it's called Hoopla.