Items at some libraries:
- Kill-a-Watt voltage meter
- Radon detector
- Telescope
- Microscope with slides
- Board games
- Cooking appliances
- T-Mobile-powered, infini-data hotspot devices that can fit in your pocket and provide Internet
Periodic reminder to get your library cards and fill out museum surveys.
Submitted 3 weeks ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to science_memes@mander.xyz
https://mander.xyz/pictrs/image/33000c0f-00df-4074-aadf-6bbfdb2ce5d0.png
Comments
Flagstaff@programming.dev 3 weeks ago
Midnitte@beehaw.org 3 weeks ago
Also 3d printers
Flagstaff@programming.dev 3 weeks ago
True, and even a Cricut at really well-off ones!
Cris_Color@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
You can rent a kill-a-watt??? Thats dope as shit
Zwiebel@feddit.org 3 weeks ago
Fr I bought one used it for a week and now it’s lying around
Sergio@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
My cousin uses the library to get art to hang on their wall. Good stuff too, their library’s got a good curator.
Flagstaff@programming.dev 3 weeks ago
Permanent art that isn’t lent out? How?
W3dd1e@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
I collect library cards like other people collect Pokémon cards. The more I get, the more audiobooks are available to me through apps like Libby.
panicnow@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I have five library cards with 3 subs to Kanopy and 2 to Hoopla. I actually prefer Libby to anna’s archive or other alternative methods.
For anyone who cares here is a list of the largest e-book lenders that I found when I was library cards hunting. If you are in one of these areas—get a library card!
The top 10 ebook and digital audiobook-circulating library systems for 2020:
- Toronto Public Library
- Los Angeles Public Library
- King County Library System (WA)
- National Library Board Singapore
- New York Public Library
- Multnomah County Library (OR)
- Seattle Public Library
- Hennepin County Library (MN) - 228/63
- Harris County Public Library (TX)
- Calgary Public Library (AB, Canada)
The top 5 ebook and digital audiobook-circulating consortia and shared collections:
- Wisconsin Public Library Consortium 126k total
- The Ohio Digital Library
- Greater Phoenix Digital Library
- Tennessee READS
- Digital Downloads Collaboration (OH)
W3dd1e@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
To add to this:
Mid-Continent Library in the Kansas City Metro has the biggest selection that I’ve seen in this area. Idk about Wichita or St Louis.
You can sign up for the KC Library, Johnson County Library, and Mid-Continent Library card online if you live in an area it covers.
You can get a Johnson County Library card if you don’t live in that area, but you have to go in person to sign up.
There are also quite a few libraries around the US that will let you sign up regardless of where you live if you make a donation.
ViatorOmnium@piefed.social 3 weeks ago
If you happen to live in Berlin, Vöbb's digital subscription is 10 euros year but it gets you things like statista and pressreader that would would cost hundreds of euros per month combined.
And if you don't it's possible your local library also has a similar offer.
A well run library is an amazing thing.
MirthfulAlembic@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
My local library is right next to a couple schools and, in the afternoons, functions as a really wholesome third space for a fair number of kids. Both free and hopefully inspires several of them to get into reading as a hobby.
Even if I didn’t use the library, that would be an excellent use of my tax dollars.
dependencyinjection@discuss.tchncs.de 3 weeks ago
RattlerSix@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
A lot of them come with free access to Kanopy or Hoopla which are streaming services with movies and TV shows that you log into with your library card
callouscomic@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
Hoopla also has comics and uses a guided view type of reader.
damnthefilibuster@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Some even have 3D printers
ZkhqrD5o@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Libraries are theft. A person reads a book and the same book is given to another person! Libraries, on average steal [arbitrary number] from publishers.
- Post sponsored by Elsevier
\s
veniasilente@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
I made once the dumb mistake of getting my library card right before moving to another city, and never ever checked if it’s valid or repurposable since (three years now).
Well, time to fix that!
meyotch@slrpnk.net 3 weeks ago
Yeah do that! They are free and I have a collection of library cards from every place I have lived. You never know when you will be on the run from the law and need to, I don’t know, read a book or something.
veniasilente@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
As neofascism is going worldwide, chances are if I have to run from the law it’s going to be because I read a book! XD
But yeah, totes doing that likely this Friday, since I’ll be around the place anyway.
Dreamchiever@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Someone reposting this like a year ago actually was what got me to get mine. Now I use Libby and get audiobooks etc from the library, it’s pretty sweet and was all free.
finitebanjo@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
For some reason all 5 libraries in distance of me close at 6pm and I work until 9pm so yeah.
morbidcactus@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
Some places will issue library cards if you work in the city but don’t live there just as an fyi.
Some systems let you check out and sync to an e-reader too, kobos work with my system but I think there’s other ways to get then on there.
7bicycles@hexbear.net 3 weeks ago
my local library recently introduced a library of things and they’ve hit a fucking homer. It’s all either things you need for like 2 weeks out of 5 years (like a machine for laminating paper), expensive hobby stuff you can try out before you drop your own cash on it (like sewing machines or button makers) or full-on throwing a rager equipment (like a karaoke machine). It is such a perfect mix of things to get on a library model. If I ever win the lottery or something I’m buying them a whole makerspace department with staff and all the equipment you could dream of.
StarMerchant938@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Found so many of my favorite CD’s there in high school. Crystal Method, Linkin Park, Silversun Pickups, Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Creed, Stone Sour, Train, Daft Punk.
Tomassci@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Our local library aside from books provides spaces for making things
badelf@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
Our library was an awesome source independent and foreign films. They were perfect shape bc so underused. We took out 10 at a time.
ExtimateCookie@hexbear.net 3 weeks ago
Damn I can’t believe people have this and don’t take advantage of it. As someone who lives in a developing country, even in a big city we don’t have the concept of a public library. I can’t even find books I want anywhere and shipping costs more than the book itself, which is huge if you factor in the difference in currency. I just read digital books now but it’s tricky especially for complex philosophical books where you want to go back and forth. Paper books make engaging with complex books easier.
madthumbs@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
‘makes government fund them more’ … ‘rent cds and games and movies’
(So, they’re socialist BS that destroyed legit rental businesses with taxpayer money.)
Cris_Color@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Those rental businesses went out of business well before libraries were generally offering non-book media rentals…
rivvvver@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
“legit” lol
Sakychu@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Yeah and totally not the rise of streaming and on-demand services
bdonvr@thelemmy.club 3 weeks ago
That sounds rad as hell
ilinamorato@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I refuse to believe that this is not a really weak troll.
AlligatorBlizzard@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Honestly that might describe their whole account.
SeasonFlux@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Yeah, and hopefully their streaming services can put the little hometown Netflix out of business… and don’t get me started on their streaming services competing with ‘lil Bezos’ Audible…
Crampi@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Read the room dude wtf
corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
ur
\sigh
Dasus@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
“rent CD”
You mean… “borrow”? “Rent” implies payment.
Also. Who the fuck is borrowing CD’s, what is this, 1999?
ilinamorato@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Physical media is coming back because owning is better than licensing.
Gerudo@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
You can absolutely bulk out your own digital library with library movies/music
Dasus@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Yeah, you can.
You can also code in binary, if you really so chose to.
Couldn’t see why you would, but you definitely could.
bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
People are baffled when I say I use the library. They’re brainwashed by big tech to think that “no one uses that now” . Pretty frustrating since its the only 3rd space left and people are trying to get it shut down (why should MY taxes pay for that!! We have INTERNET ).
I hate people.
Sergio@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I think “borrow” has a bad connotation in the US. Like: “beg, borrow or steal”. But people should remember that it’s theirs, they paid for it with their taxes, they’re just sharing it with others.
boonhet@sopuli.xyz 3 weeks ago
Interestingly enough, not really happening in my country. You’re sorta expected to get the mandatory reading books from a library in school… And later on in university, it’s a place to hang out and study together.
Maybe adults outside of academia don’t use them much (I don’t), but I think people generally see the value in them.