It's the Economy

I was recently talking with a friend who's a big movie fan, and it went something like this:

I've been signed up with Netflix for the past few months. It's great. It's only $4.95 a month and your movies just come in the mail. You should sign up!

You know I work at a library, and I can get just about any movie I want there (and by the way so can you)?

But you have to choose from what the library has.

You'd have to search pretty hard to find a title through Netflix that we can't get through the library. I place holds on the titles I want, and they show up when they're available.

But you still have to pay, right?

Nope, it's free.

But with Netflix they come to my door, I'd still have to come to the library right?

Ok, You got me there. But is that really a bad thing?

Now I have nothing against Netflix. From what I hear it sounds like a great deal. But free is still less $4.95. And $4.95 a month adds up to nearly $60 a year. In this economy every little bit helps. It seems that when times get tougher the library get busier. It got me thinking about other ways the library saves me (and you) money.

I used to subscribe to 3 or 4 different magazines. Now I read them at the library or check them out. That probably saves me close to $100 a year. Most obviously, I don't need to buy books when I can check them out for free.

I can save money on going out to the movies when 1) The library shows movies, and 2) The library has great programs. Just this month we have offered two book discussions, several films, several programs on Abraham Lincoln and more. We occassionally have musical or dramatic performances as well. If you have kids there's a ton more. Check here for our event calendar.

It is so simple too. You can browse our catalog online from home, place holds and when they're here we'll give you a call or an email. That is no harder than ordering through Netflix