Frugal Friends Podcast
Episode: YOU'RE SLEEPING ON THE LIBRARY: 21 Ways to Use the Library
Hosts: Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni
Date: March 27, 2026
Episode Overview
This energetic and laughter-filled episode goes deep on one of Jen and Jill’s favorite frugal living resources: the public library. With the cost of subscriptions and consumer services constantly piling up, the pair break down 21 (plus a few more!) surprisingly diverse and modern ways to use your local library—saving money while enriching your life. The episode is packed with anecdotes, tips, and fervent encouragement to love and support libraries for much more than just borrowing books.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
Why Libraries Matter (01:13 - 03:46)
- Jen’s passion: “My one issue voter stance. Local libraries, how to use them, why to use them… I cannot stress this enough.” (01:13)
- Jill’s take: “You’re going to get yelled at, mostly by Jen, sometimes by me... we think there’s no problem you have that library can’t solve.” (01:42)
- Countering subscriptions: The motivation is to replace costly subscriptions with free/low-cost library offerings, as discussed in their previous “subscription crisis” episode. (02:19)
21+ Ways to Use Your Library
1. Books (03:50)
- All formats: physical, audiobooks, ebooks; new releases often available on launch through apps or reservation.
- “If there’s a book that your library doesn’t have, you can request it.” – Jen (04:10)
- Libraries are key for accessing books without buying, including the hosts’ own book.
2. Movies & TV Shows (06:02)
- DVD and Blu-Ray collections; sometimes lending DVD players and streaming sticks preloaded with services like Hulu or Netflix.
- Digital streaming via library apps (Libby, Hoopla): “Are they the newest things you’re going to see on Netflix? No. Are they comfort shows and probably things you haven’t seen before? Yeah.” – Jen (08:24)
3. Music (08:51)
- Stream current popular albums via Hoopla (Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Chapel Roan, etc.).
- “You now no longer need any of your streaming subscriptions.” – Jill (10:02)
4. Magazines & Newspapers (10:17)
- Free access to premium online magazines like Consumer Reports.
- “If you’re online and it requires a paywall, before you pay, see if your library has a subscription.” – Jen (11:43)
- Pro tip: If your library doesn’t carry it, ask them to!
5. Video Games (12:22)
- Some libraries lend recent games and even consoles—ask at the desk, as they’re not always openly displayed.
- “This is for dabblers!” – Jill (14:04)
6. Library of Things (15:01)
- A huge assortment of borrowable items: seeds, gardening tools, musical instruments, projectors, board games, telescopes, cake pans, power drills, podcasting equipment, and much more.
- Jen highlights: “A ukulele, a kid-size electric guitar, a record player… looking at all this that are so expensive, but you don’t have to drop your money on all of them.” (16:53)
- Jill: “There’s just no end in sight for what you might be able to get.”
7. Printing (17:43)
- Libraries offer significantly cheaper printing than commercial services—about 15¢/page vs. 26¢ at Staples (black and white).
8. Museum or Attraction Passes (19:10)
- Free or discounted passes to local attractions, reserved like a book.
- Jen’s tip: “Check to see when the pass is going to be back at the library… for the competitive ones, you definitely have to go look at when it’s going to be back and then go that morning.” (20:25)
9. Study & Meeting Rooms (21:40)
- Quiet, bookable spaces for work, study, meetings.
10. Wi-Fi & Bathrooms (22:08)
- Great for changing up your routine or when traveling/road-tripping instead of using cafes or fast food places.
Community and Educational Resources
11. Baby & New Mom Events (24:41)
- Play groups, sign language for toddlers, sensory play, supportive environments for parents.
- “If you’re a new mom and you’re feeling a little lonely... your mood will shift. That’s exactly what I did.” – Jen (25:17)
12. Kids' Learning Events (27:02)
- Lego clubs, Pokémon clubs, STEM and tinkering workshops—all free.
13. Teens’ Clubs & Study Groups (27:32)
- Paint nights, chess club, robotics, D&D, writing collectives.
14. Book Clubs (28:12)
- Multiple genres and formats: “From horror to cozy mysteries, to ‘words and wine,’ there’s a book club for everyone.” – Jen (28:35)
15. Adult Hobby & Craft Groups (29:22)
- Fiber arts, puzzles, yoga, trivia, journaling, movie nights: “So much of our wealth comes from our social circles…take your girls night to the library!” – Jill (30:05)
16. Coffee Shops at the Library (32:28)
- If your library has a café, it’s usually cheaper and profits may support the library or local causes.
17. Free Notary Services (33:49)
- Save up to $25 per notarization—particularly useful for major life paperwork.
18. Educational Kits for Kids (34:13)
- STEAM/educational kits, adventure backpacks, American Girl dolls, bibliotherapy/book therapy bags for difficult topics.
- Jill: “You don’t have to buy it... you can put library into the regular rotation to see what your kid likes playing with.” (34:18–35:24)
- Jen: “Who knows more about these books than the librarians… specially curating these little bags of books to help parents talk about sensitive subjects.” (37:02)
19. Free Tax Help (38:12)
- Weekly workshops and drop-in hours ahead of tax season.
20. Genealogy Resources (38:12)
- Free access to websites like Ancestry.com, HeritageHub, MyHeritage, and local genealogy clubs or workshops.
21. Networking & Community Meetups (39:26)
- Civic engagement events, small biz networking, creative groups, and community boards to meet neighbors and collaborators.
- “Local politics are arguably much more important than what’s going on nationally because everything…starts locally.” – Jen (39:57)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Don’t be like the alpha podcast bros who are like, ‘I don’t read.’ Don’t be like those people. Read!” – Jen (05:30)
- “LBRY solves it for you. Yes—no, done. Save!” – Jen (10:17)
- “If you’re bored at home and don’t want to pay money to go out, try a video game. Try it, see what’s up.” – Jen (14:18)
- “If you don’t even have an idea of what you might find, just look at what do they have—that could spur some creativity.” – Jill (17:13)
- “Take that hobby craft graveyard that you have…dig into it, and I almost guarantee there is a class at the library.” – Jen (31:34)
Listener & Host Stories
- Listener Bill of the Week (42:20): Melissa shares that she paid off her last loan other than her mortgage and is celebrating by investing and saving.
- “It feels so good to pay off debt because it is such a hard-earned goal…you aren’t stopping there!” – Jill (43:06)
- Host anecdotes:
- Jill borrowed a robot that draws with her niece/nephew (45:43)
- Jen borrowed a tree-identifying kit and emphasized how “Amazon-like” the library catalog now is (46:07)
- Jill’s heartwarming library welcome story: “It was the most pure, wholesome experience of my life.” (49:05)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:13 — Why libraries are the ultimate frugal hack
- 03:50 — Books for every age and interest
- 06:02 — Streaming movies, DVDs, and TV through the library
- 08:51 — Free music streaming on Hoopla
- 10:17 — Magazine & newspaper access for free
- 12:22 — Borrowing video games and consoles
- 15:01 — The ever-expanding Library of Things
- 17:43 — Cheaper printing
- 19:10 — Free museum and attraction passes
- 21:40 — Study/meeting rooms, Wi-Fi, and more
- 24:41 — Baby/new mom classes and events
- 27:02 — Activities for kids, teens, and adults (book clubs, hobbies)
- 32:28 — Cheap/no-cost library coffee and supporting the library
- 33:49 — Free notary services
- 34:13 — STEAM/edu kits, bibliotherapy bags
- 38:12 — Free tax help and genealogy resources
- 39:26 — Community events, networking, bulletin boards
- 42:20 — Listener Bill of the Week (Melissa paying off her debts)
- 45:34 — Host Politing Round: most unexpected library borrowings
Final Thoughts
Jen and Jill’s impassioned, humorous advocacy throughout this episode makes it clear: whatever your age, interests, or financial situation, you are probably missing out by not utilizing your local library. The library is positioned here not only as a cost-saver, but also a hub for community, creativity, and connection.
They encourage listeners to report back in the comments about what their own local library offers—which, as Jen says, is guaranteed to be at least five things from this episode’s list. Take this as your call to action to “support your local library, even if you can afford [subscriptions], because you are helping everyone have access.”
Memorable Wrap-Up Quotes
- “Let this be our own subreddit for libraries in this comment section.” – Jen (41:42)
- “I want a shirt that says I love library.” – Jen (50:14)
- “I need my entire wardrobe, essentially, to be library themed.” – Jen (50:32)
Further Links
- Buy What You Love Book
- Frugal Friends Podcast episode archives