February is Library Lovers Month, a time for everyone to recognize the value of libraries and to work to assure that the nation's libraries will continue to serve.

I don’t talk about it too often because I like to keep my work life separate from my social media presence, but I work at a public library and have worked there for close to a decade. I have basically spent all of my 20s in a public library, so I have unique insight into the important work libraries and library staff do for our community. While my life has evolved and changed in the last several years, the way I use the library has changed as well. Public libraries are everything from a lifeline for the neediest members of our community to a safe space for marginalized folks to a social outlet for new parents to an indispensable outlet for the dreamers and goal getters looking to get ahead on a budget. The latter of which has prompted me to write this blog post.

Part of working in the Marketing department means I’ve spent a fair amount of time over the years meeting customers and non-customers at community events, local parks, conferences, networking mixers, etc. And it never ceases to amaze me (and partially depress me) how little some people know about what their public library offers. According a to recent Gallup poll, more Americans visited a library than they did movie theaters, sporting events, live music or theatrical events, or theme parks in 2019. Yet I still meet so many people who don’t have library cards, haven’t visited their library in years, or think libraries only offer books and storytimes.

I’m here to tell you that if you’re a content creator and you’re sleeping on your library system that you are missing out on one of the most useful tools in your arsenal that costs you literally nothing. Before we get into the specifics of what’s offered, I will preface this with saying that resources differ from library to library due to funding, staffing, demand, etc.

Business Resources

Most public libraries in this day and age offer a variety of business resources. Here’s a sampling of what I know to be common:

-Microsoft Excel classes

-Quickbooks classes

-Classes on how to setup Facebook Business pages

-Free, online language learning services

-Databases for:

• business plan samples

• demographics

• insights on competitors

• market research

• grants

• …and more

-Free access to newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and local business journals

-Free tax forms

Creative Resources

If you need help with a certain skill or want to learn some new ones to improve your content, these are some of what is commonly offered:

-Free access to LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com), a paid service with a STACKED video library of trainings on everything from graphic design to marketing to web development to social media advertising

-Hundreds (in some cases, thousands) of books, e-books and audiobooks that cover instructional topics and insights from industry pros

-Meetups or free programs with other creatives where you can learn a new skill or network with others

-Photography classes

-Adobe Creative Suite classes

-Co-working spaces where you can work and network with other like-minded people

-3D printing labs

-Some libraries are even out-of-the-box locations/sets for your next Instagram photo

And this is just scratching the surface, y’all! Libraries are responding to the constantly-changing times we live in by adapting and offering services that make the difference. Of course, books and storytimes still keep a steady crowd of people coming through the doors, but your public library wants to offer something of value to each and every one of its taxpayers.

So if I’ve peer-pressured you to look into renewing your library card (yes, in many library systems they do expire) or making time to see what they offer, let me know in the comments.

P.S. - Don’t be afraid to ask questions! If it’s not obvious how to find what you’re looking for, ask a staff member. They’re full of information and love to meet customers who want to become engaged library cardholders.