by Victoria Freeny
Monthly subscription costs add up very quickly. Consider how many streaming services, music platforms, magazines, and other services you currently subscribe to. Can you even list them all? Do you know how much they all cost you each month?
Through the library, you can access most of the same services at no cost to you. All you need is an Adams County Library card.
Do you currently have a Kindle subscription? Or have a Kindle but don’t want to buy books? Check out Libby for eBooks you can read on your phone, tablet, and even straight from your Kindle free of charge. If you have multiple library cards from libraries that use Libby, you can expand your access even more!
More of an audiobook listener through Audible? Check out Libby for our audiobook selection. You can place several holds and check out several titles at a time. These materials function just like regular books but with no overdue fees.
Are you an avid magazine reader? Or are there certain stories or hobbies that you like to check in to every now and then, but don’t want to pay for the subscription? Did you know that you have access to over 6,000 magazine titles through Libby? That means you don’t even have to come to the library to look at them. They are always available for on-demand reading.
What about music on your commute or while you’re cleaning or studying? Do you currently have a Spotify or Apple Music account? Consider checking out Freegal, a music streaming service offered through the library. You can download up to 5 songs a week to keep, and you can stream any music for free for up to three hours every day!
Here’s the tricky one: Do you know how many streaming services you currently have? Instead of Netflix or Hulu, check out Kanopy, which offers a wide variety of movies, TV shows, documentaries, and instructional videos.
Learning another language can be difficult, which is why tools such as Duolingo have become popular. These tools walk you through the basics of the language, including pronunciation, conversations, etc. Using your library card, you have access to a service called Transparent Online, where you can learn over 120 different languages, including several dialects of particular languages.
If you like researching your family history, or have considered creating an Ancestry.com account, look no further. With your library card, you have access to Ancestry while you are in the Gettysburg library building. And, when you are at home, you have access to Heritage Quest, MyHeritage, and Newspaper Archive.
I challenge you to check out at least one of these digital resources in the next week. You might be surprised by how much you can access for free – and you might even find a subscription you can cancel! Don’t have a library card? Stop by any library location or apply online at www.adamslibrary.org.
Victoria Freeny is Public Services Coordinator Librarian for the Adams County Library System.