The public library is a wonderful place for RVers living on a budget. We saved $1,500 last year using our library membership for the services below!
Ebooks and Audiobooks
We are avid readers and yearn to learn new things. As a reader, there is no better organization to be a member of than the public library. Sean read 29 (non-fiction) books this year and Julie read 48 (mostly fiction), all FREE from the library. Also, we were able to read them all on our iPads using the Kindle and Overdrive apps or listen to them using the Audible app. This saved us about approximately $650 in ebooks and $350 from canceling our monthly Audible subscriptions. The beauty of ebooks and audiobooks are they do not take up any space in the RV. You download them to the device of your choice and remove them when finished. We especially enjoy listening to audiobooks as we drive between campgrounds or when exercising.
Magazines & Newspapers
Books are not the only items that are available at most public libraries. In our public library, electronic access to newspapers and magazines is also available. We used to have subscriptions through the Apple App Store, but have been able to cancel those thanks to the availability at the library. Magazines are available on most popular subjects. Sean enjoys reading business and finance magazines and the library has electronic versions of the popular magazines in this genre including Inc., Forbes, and Entrepreneur.
Educational Resources
Besides the books, the best feature we have found at the public library is the availability of sites such as Lynda.com that provide quality education on many tech topics from learning a program language to photography. Julie has learned many items related to our website, video editing, and social media for free using this benefit of being a public library member. She saved $35 a month ($420 annually) on a subscription!
Language Learning
There are many different software companies that produce language learning software. Some require the purchase of actual CDs or DVDs, while others require a paid subscription to access the lessons over the Internet. Many public libraries offer these subscriptions to public library members. Rosetta Stone, Mango, and other popular language learning titles can be found at the library. This can save the interested learner hundreds of dollars.
What Can You Save?
While not all public libraries offer everything listed above, some provide even more. We definitely recommend getting a membership from the public library where your residence is. Once you have a membership, you can download the books or access the educational resources from anywhere. For an RVer, the space and weight saved in books is great. Also, the hundreds of dollars saved, depending on how much you take advantage of, will leave room in your budget for more travel! For the frugal RVer, it is a no-brainer to get a membership at your public library!
