One of the top 10 places to look hip and cool…and save $$$

When did this daggy, smelly place become uber-cool?

I haven’t been to one for so long.

It’s probably because I’ve been psychologically scared after being dragged there too often as a kid…

“Gregory Ian, look at all these lovely Asterix comics. And ooohhh…there’s a lovely brown corduroy-covered bean bag for you to sit in. Quick, look smart – read this Encyclopaedia Britannica…”

I wasn’t much into Asterix. And those Encyclopaedia editions were so beyond my literary capabilities at the time I used to only pretend I could read them (I’m sorry Mum – but it’s time you heard the truth.)

“Book in hand” meant “smart kid” back then.

So like most of my mates, I was continuously ‘encouraged’ to go.

Every Saturday morning for two hours. Sit. Read. Look smart.

Yep. You know the place I’m talking about – the local Public Library.

There I’d sit with a mountain of dog-earred publications by my side. My arms and legs would stick out and appear to be the only surviving parts of my body after the rest of me had been swallowed up by a smelly, sagging bean bag. And man…that prickly, psychedelic carpet. What was it with those nauseating patterns back then?

So public libraries have been right up there with public toilets for me.

If I could help it, I just wouldn’t go.

But after a tip from Stacey Lee on our Tight Arts Appreciation Society Page, I decided that after all these years I should check them out once more.

Was I surprised? You bet.

Here’s what I found…

• No brown corduroy bean bags
• Really cool spaces for kids to run amok (away from the adults)
• Wi-Fi and computer access for FREE
• Access to computer software
• Heaps of publications – mags, and even CDs, DVDs, Video console games you can borrow for FREE
• Ways to borrow from other libraries all over Australia for FREE
• Online requests
• Cool book reading sessions
• Public forums
• Cheap photocopying and scanning services
• Full online access to library databases from home

If you live in a capital city the Libraries can offer you a little extra. (Refer to the lists at the end of this blog.)

Take the State Library of Qld in Brisbane for instance.

It offers all the above plus in-house library training sessions on things like blogging and Twitter for beginners, genealogy classes, children’s programmes in the school holidays and guest speakers on a variety of things PLUS all the books and resources you’d ever want or need to borrow.

And because it’s such a great, modern environment nowadays (not a brown corduroy bean bag in site) it’s actually a cool, cheap place to hang out for a bit.

Free internet. Free computers. Free magazines to flip through.

I’m now a member and I’ve got myself an e-services card. Cool stuff.

The best part is I can kick my amazon.com habit and stop buying so many books and DVDs online.

I reckon with my insatiable appetite for books, I’ll save about $150 a month at least.

So, if you want to start saving money on magazines, movies, books, video games and DVDs, visit your local library and access them all for FREE.

Things have really changed our there in Library land.

Book it in.

Cheers!

Greg Ellis

P.S.

There’s heaps more savings ideas like this from our growing Tight Arts Facebook community. You can join too by clicking ‘like’ to the right or find out more here…

http://www.facebook.com/tightarts

A list of other main State libraries in Australia.

Northern Territory – http://www.ntl.nt.gov.au/
Western Australia – http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/
New South Wales – http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/
Tasmania – http://www.statelibrary.tas.gov.au/
Victoria – http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/
Canberra (National Library) – http://www.nla.gov.au/
South Australia – http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm