It’s National Library Week! You might say we’re biased, but we love our libraries, and we’re excited to share all of the reasons to appreciate your local libraries—and librarians. If you haven’t been to the library much since the turn of the millennium, you’ll find that things have changed. Libraries aren’t just stacks of books and dusty card catalogs. They’re community hubs with so many amazing resources to explore! Now’s a perfect opportunity to check out (pun intended) what your library has to offer!
They’re free and open to all!
Not everyone realizes it, but signing up for a library card is totally free! You don’t need a paid subscription or membership to access the library’s collection—and you can check out as much as you’d like! In fact, some libraries keep a running tally of how much money you save by using the library instead of purchasing books. One member of our Cricket team saved over $400 in 2024.
Afraid of racking up fines on your overdue books? Many libraries have also discontinued late fees to keep their collections more accessible to all, and renewing your books is easier than ever with online library accounts. Check your local library system to see what their policy on overdue books is. Nobody should ever feel ashamed or nervous to come to the library!
Librarians are amazing
We love librarians! In this era of AI search and asking Siri or Alexa for assistance, it can be easy to forget how helpful it is to talk to a real person. If you ask a librarian to help you locate a book about woman inventors aimed at elementary schoolers, they can find you the perfect one. That’s easy mode for them. In fact, they’ll often be able to tackle obscure requests like, “I remember I read this book in fifth grade, the cover was greenish, there was a dog in it, and one of the characters was named Sweetie-Pie.” (“Oh, you mean Because of Winn-Dixie! Great book!”)
Librarians can also help kids learn how to use computer technology and refine their searches so they can do more independent research in the future. It’s easy to think of librarians simply as book experts, but they’re also research and information technology whizzes!
Check out eBooks and audiobooks
Not really the “paper book” type? Looking for books to bring on vacation and have limited space in your carry-on? Libraries carry subscriptions to ebook and audiobook services like Libby! That’s right, you can check out your ebooks for free through your library instead of subscribing to paid services. Sure, you might have to wait a bit for someone to return your book of choice, but it’s an incredibly convenient and cost-effective system! Audiobooks are especially great for long car trips or commutes with the family.
Awesome events and activities for all ages
Where can you attend readings from best-selling authors, a kids’ movie night, a first aid training, a teen crafting club, a murder mystery play, a book club, and meet live reptiles up close? Quite possibly at your local library! Libraries offer classes and activities for the community, often free or for very low prices. If you sign up for your local library’s mailing list, you may be surprised by the wealth of options. One of our Cricket team members has a fond memory of attending an after-hours teen party at the library where the staff transformed the stacks into a mini golf course! Now that’s a rare opportunity!
These classes aren’t just for fun. Libraries often offer job trainings, resume services, classes on important life skills, language classes, citizenship preparation services, parenting classes, and more. They’re even polling places!
Much more than books
Increasingly, public libraries offer far more than books. For example, your local library likely carries subscriptions to Cricket Magazines that kids can check out. (If not, get in touch with them and let them know that you’d love to see Cricket Magazines in their collection!) Many libraries offer electronics for checkout, like laptops, and quite a few have not only public-access printers but 3D printers, too.
For example, the DC Public Library has a MakerSpace and Fabrication Lab where you can use 3D printers, Cricut, sewing machines, a laser cutter, and more! Fairfax County Public Library’s “Library of Things” allows users to check out everything from board games to binoculars, nature backpacks to family history kits. Speaking of “family history,” the library also has a huge collection of local history documents that visitors can peruse. Curious about the history of the land where your home now stands, or wondering if that family legend is really true? Your library system might have the answers.
Many libraries even offer free or discounted passes to local museums, parks, and historic sites. The New York Public Library, for instance, offers Culture Pass, which gives users free access to amazing sites around the city like the Metropolitan Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the New York Botanical Garden.
What does your library offer besides books? We’d love to hear about it!
Libraries occupy an incredible place in history and culture!
There’s a reason that the Library of Alexandria was considered one of the greatest treasures of history! Long before the internet, libraries have been a source of incredible knowledge across countless cultures and civilizations. The world’s oldest known library, the Library of Ashurbanipal, was founded in 7th century Assyria and even preceded paper books! Its collection of over 30,000 clay tablets includes the famous Epic of Gilgamesh.
The Library of Congress is still an immensely popular tourist destination, and with over 160 million items in its vast collection, it’s easy to see why it still holds an important place in culture. All copyrights in the USA pass through the Library of Congress, and it holds important documents like the personal papers of various US Presidents, Lewis and Clark’s map, and a Gutenberg Bible.
Across the pond, the British Library has over 170 million items and includes such gems as the Magna Carta, Leonardo da Vinci’s handwritten notebook, a Shakespeare First Folio, first drafts of Beatles lyrics, and so much more. It even has a manuscript of Beowulf, one of the earliest surviving English language texts.
In fact, some of the most architecturally significant and beautiful buildings around the world are libraries! As centers of valuable knowledge, there’s a sense of reverence to many great libraries. Still, despite this weighty role they play in culture, we love that libraries are incredibly accessible and available to everyone—and lots of fun!
What do you love about your library? Let us know!
