How the local library can save you money

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Life Kit – "How the local library can save you money"

Host: Mariel Segarra (NPR)
Air Date: October 13, 2025

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Overview

This episode of Life Kit shines a spotlight on the surprising range of resources, services, and community benefits local public libraries offer—and how leveraging them can save you money. Host Mariel Segarra chats with librarians Akilah Bhatt and Michael Threets to break down the expansive value of your library, from non-traditional items to legal help to vibrant local events.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Library Cards: Your Ticket to (Almost) Everything

• Library cards are free and available to nearly everyone, regardless of age. The signup process is simple, requiring only a quick application and typically proof of residence.
• Libraries welcome everyone, even those without a card—for use of spaces, bathrooms, and sometimes computers or wifi.
• Quote:
  • "Having fun isn't hard when you've got a library card." – Mariel Segarra, introducing the episode ([05:16])

2. Surprising Things You Can Borrow

• Libraries lend much more than books. Depending on the location, items may include:
  • Movies (DVDs & streaming services)
  • Museum passes (free or discounted entry)
  • Video games, board games, musical instruments, baking pans, gardening tools, sewing machines, and even power tools.
  • Some libraries offer seed collections—pick up seeds to start a garden or contribute your own.
• Quotes:
  • "Some libraries have bakeware collections where you can get baking pans." – Michael Threets ([06:58])
  • "Patrons can pick up seeds to start a garden and then drop off seeds for others to take home and plant." – Akilah Bhatt ([07:18])

3. Services That Save You Time and Money

• Classic services: Free computer use, printing (small fee), photocopying, scanning.
• Modern offerings: Tutoring, help with citizenship tests, standardized test prep, database access (like Consumer Reports), language classes (often via online platforms like MangoLang).
• Job and legal help: Volunteers assist with job applications, interview prep, and tax prep. Some libraries offer free appointments with lawyers or social workers for advice on legal, housing, or medical issues.
• Genealogy research: Access to Ancestry.com and historical records.
• Quotes:
  • "We have volunteer lawyers who will meet with people for 15 to 20 minutes at a time on a monthly basis, and then they'll just provide free legal help to people in need." – Michael Threets ([08:44])
  • "You can learn to speak Japanese. You can learn to speak Spanish. You can learn to speak French." – Michael Threets ([08:15])

4. Events and Experiences: More Than Just Quiet Reading

• Examples of events: Workout classes, sound meditations, music concerts (like a mariachi band), author panels, hip hop fashion shows, knitting/cooking/magic workshops, ‘Read to a dog’ programs, LEGO clubs, pet parades.
• Libraries are vibrant community spaces for all ages and interests.
• Quotes:
  • "We have Read to a dog programs where dogs come in with their owners and kids sit there and read to them." – Michael Threets ([11:02])

5. How to Maximize Your Book Borrowing

• Librarians love helping patrons find their next read using your interests in books or movies as a springboard.
• Use library displays for inspiration—they often reflect current events, themes, or special celebrations.
• Digital borrowing with apps like Libby allows you to read ebooks, listen to audiobooks, and stream magazines, directly on your phone or device.
• Tips:
  • Don’t request more books than you can read in a checkout period; it blocks others and adds stress ([14:28]).
  • If lots of holds exist on one version of a book, check for alternate records with shorter wait lists ([14:44]).
• Quotes:
  • "Librarians have a unique way of listening to those conversations and picking different pieces of what they say... relating to books to movies." – Michael Threets ([13:19])
  • "You may find something there that you have never thought you would read." – Akilah Bhatt ([13:44])

6. Library Etiquette: Being a Good Community Member

• Treat borrowed items with care—don’t eat greasy food or read in the bath with library books, and return them on time.
• Libraries may be eliminating late fees to encourage returns, but timely returns ensure access for all.
• Support your library with book or item donations, volunteering your talents, or just spreading positive word of mouth.
• Quotes:
  • "That helps library workers immensely. Just for us to have statistics about how many people have a library card." – Michael Threets on the value of signing up ([16:21])
  • "We have recently thought about making a display out of all the things we find in our books… we found tissues and we found a credit card. Yeah, but tissues are our worst enemies." – Akilah Bhatt ([15:45])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "People always ask me if the barcode actually can scan, and I'm always dismayed to say that it does not. …I saw a picture of Arthur's library card, and I was like, I need that forever." – Michael Threets on his tattoo ([02:03])
• "They would be saving like $145 or $150 or something like that. And they are amazed at that." – Akilah Bhatt on cost-saving receipts ([02:42])
• "I went to one event at the Brooklyn Public Library… A panelist did a close reading of an Andre 3000 verse and I saw a hip hop fashion show and walked around sipping the juice of a giant coconut." – Mariel Segarra ([10:26])
• "Talk about the library to your family, to your friends, to your neighbors, to strangers on the streets, for lack of a better word—annoy people with your enthusiasm for your local library." – Michael Threets ([17:48])
• "We are here to serve you. We are here to help you find what you're looking for. We are here to guide you and we just want to welcome you to our space." – Akilah Bhatt ([18:53])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [05:16] – How to get a library card: requirements, application process, and free access.
• [06:58] – Beyond books: surprising things you can borrow or use.
• [08:15] – Educational opportunities: learning new languages and job help.
• [10:26] – Fun experiences and events hosted by libraries.
• [12:52] – Tips for using the stacks, online holds, and digital resources.
• [15:02] – Digital content: borrowing ebooks, audiobooks, using Libby.
• [15:39] – Library book care and hygiene.
• [16:21] – Library etiquette and community engagement.
• [18:53] – The essential role of helpful librarians.

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Conclusion

Local libraries are dynamic community assets, far more than book repositories. They offer wide-ranging services, practical resources, and experiences that can save individuals and families significant money while strengthening civic ties. The episode ends with a call to make use of your library, support it, treat it (and its staff) kindly, and share your love for it with others.

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Final Takeaways

• Get a library card.
• Borrow surprising and useful items.
• Take advantage of events and programs.
• Enjoy digital resources and personalized book recommendations.
• Treat staff and resources with respect.
• Spread the word and support your library however you can.

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Life Kit offers a warm, practical, and inspiring guide to rediscovering (and championing) the public library as a vital resource for saving money, learning new things, and building community.

Transcript

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[Mariel Segarra]

Into the episode, I want to share some other exciting things that Life Kit is working on. There is a staggering amount of credit card debt in America. $1.21 trillion in 2025, to be exact. And even if your credit card debt is a much, much smaller number, it can feel like it might as well be in the trillions. So we made a special newsletter series to help you tackle your credit card debt. We'll walk you through everything from tracking your spending to picking a debt payment plan you'll actually stick to. You can sign [e-mail] creditcarddebt or you can find the link in the description for this episode. You're listening to Life Kit from npr. Hey, everybody, it's Marielle. All right, so I don't know if y' all are fans of the kids TV show Arthur, but there's a song from that show that feels like the only way to open this episode. In the scene, Arthur Reed, who's kind of like a nerdy aardvark, is walking with purpose, flanked by two friends. They have library cards in their hands, having fun. Is it hard when you've got a library card? Come on inside. We've got everything you need. There's plenty to do. Or you can just sit and read. Yeah, it's a jam. The song goes on to talk about the many things you can do at the public library, like learn about outer space, learn to make a paper plane, or deep dive into a historical text. Michael Threets is the new host of Reading Rainbow, the beloved PBS kids program that aired for more than 20 years. He's also the author of I'm so Happy youy're Here, a celebration of library Joy. And he liked this song so much that he got Arthur's library card tattooed on his arm.

[Michael Threets]

People always ask me if the barcode actually can scan, and I'm always dismayed to say that it does not. And I didn't think to get my own library card number on it. I saw a picture of Arthur's library card, and I was like, I need that forever.

[Mariel Segarra]

Best part about the song is it's all true. There are so many things you can do at the library. Borrow books and supplies and tools, use machines, take free classes, hear live music, and save a lot of money. Akilah Bhatt is also a librarian, and at her library in Texas, they tell people on the receipt how much they saved by borrowing. Instead of buying those books at checkout.

[Akilah Bhatt]

They would be saving like $145 or $150 or something like that. And they are amazed at that.

[Mariel Segarra]

So this episode of Life Kit, which first ran in October of 2023, is about that magical place we call the public library. We'll talk about how to get a library card, how librarians can help you, how to navigate the online hold system, and what kinds of things you can do at the library. You might be surprised.

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[Mariel Segarra]

Okay, so as Arthur says, having fun isn't hard when you've got a library card. So let's get you a library card that's takeaway. 1. Library cards are free and generally you can get one at any age. You just need to fill out a quick, maybe two minute application. Some libraries also require proof of residence, a bill or an ID that shows you live in the town or the state. Others have options for visitors. It's worth noting that not everything at the library requires a card, so you won't need one to step inside, sit on the couches in the heat or air conditioning, use the bathroom, connect to the WI fi.

[Akilah Bhatt]

Or you can get on our computers, which have free Internet access. Some children just come after school, play games, and that's totally fine. They can do their homework. That's great.

[Mariel Segarra]

That's Akilah again. She's the branch manager at Maude Marks Library in Harris County, Texas. You can also attend library events and classes without a card, but if you want to borrow something and take it home, you'll need the card. And when I say borrow something, you probably think of books, right? That makes sense. It's what all those shelves are stacked with. And we're going to get to those. I promise. We're going to start somewhere a little more surprising, because libraries are not all about books. Takeaway 2 Check out all the things you can check out from the library. Did you know that you can borrow movies from the library online and stream them on your computer or your TV at home? Okay, maybe you did. Did you know about the museum passes? Lots of libraries have them. You can reserve free or discounted tickets to museums in your city or town instead of paying 15 or 20 bucks for admission. Now, your mileage may vary depending on your library's size and funding, but some other things you might be able to.

[Michael Threets]

Borrow video games, musical instruments, board games. Some libraries have bakeware collections where you can get baking pans.

[Mariel Segarra]

That's Reading Rainbow host Michael Threets. Again, other libraries will have tool collections where you can borrow a wheelbarrow or a power drill. Some of the branches in Aquila's library system have seed collections.

[Akilah Bhatt]

Patrons can pick up seeds to start a garden and then drop off seeds for others to take home and plant.

[Mariel Segarra]

Also, there are lots of things you can do for free at the library that you'd have to pay for somewhere else. That brings us to takeaway 3. Find out what services you can access at your local library. Now there are the classics, which you might know about. You can use the computers to check your email or print stuff out like plane tickets or concert tickets or shipping labels. There's usually a small fee that depends on your library, but it's often about 10 to 50 cents a page. You can Also make photocopies and scan pages from books. But then there's all this other stuff. A lot of libraries offer tutoring programs and help with citizenship tests. You may be able to use your library's computers to take a practice exam. They often have databases of standardized tests or to dig through newspaper archives or look up a product on Consumer Reports for free. Or to learn another language.

[Michael Threets]

You can learn to speak Japanese. You can learn to speak Spanish. You can learn to speak French.

[Mariel Segarra]

A lot of public libraries have volunteers who can help you with job applications and interview prep. Also, around tax time, volunteer tax experts will sit down with you, give advice, and help you file for free. When I talked to Michael a couple years ago, he was the supervising librarian at the Fairfield Civic Center Library in Solano County, California, which also happens to be his childhood library.

[Michael Threets]

And he said, we have volunteer lawyers who will meet with people for 15 to 20 minutes at a time on a monthly basis, and then they'll just provide free legal help to people in need.

[Mariel Segarra]

We got an email from a librarian in Washington who told us her library has a social worker to assist with finding housing, medical care, and addiction treatment. It also has a Lego engineering club. And if you're interested in your family tree, a lot of libraries have access to genealogy databases like Ancestry.com and they may also have books with records of immigrants who arrived at US Ports in different time periods. In general, if you need to research something, librarians can point you to the relevant books or order them from other branches for you. Akilah says a lot of kids will come in looking for help with a school project.

[Akilah Bhatt]

A simple project could be that they will have to research about a certain person. So a biography. We have college students come in and ask for medical research or they want to discuss controversial topics that are happening, that are trending, and we are here to help them with that.

[Mariel Segarra]

You can often use the library to book a meeting space that's not your house or a noisy coffee shop. And sometimes libraries have machines you can use. Like there's something called a maker Lab at Aquila's library.

[Akilah Bhatt]

We have seen so many fun things that have been made in the maker lab using our machines. You can steam press things and make T shirts and things that you buy online, paying so much money, just make it at the library. And people have laser cut wooden ornaments and wooden spoons and things like that to just give as gifts during holidays.

[Mariel Segarra]

Okay, so we've established that libraries are a fun place to be, so probably comes as no surprise at this point that they also hold very cool events. Takeaway 4. Learn about the fun experiences you can have at the library. We're talking workout classes, sound meditations. I went to one event at the Brooklyn Public Library about the 50th anniversary of hip hop. A panelist did a close reading of an Andre 3000 verse and I saw a hip hop fashion show and walked around sipping the juice of a giant coconut. Michael said his former library has had cooking workshops, knitting classes, magic shows.

[Michael Threets]

We have Read to a dog programs where dogs come in with their owners and kids sit there and read to them. It's just a great way for kids to build confidence in their reading. We'll have family Literacy Days, regular literacy days where people can come in and then just learn to read and write.

[Mariel Segarra]

Aquila's library has held concerts one time with a mariachi band and nobody shushed them. I asked once again, yes, this is all free. We haven't even gotten to talking about all the books yet. That's after the break.

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[Mariel Segarra]

Okay, so we've been beating around the bush here a little bit. Maybe you came to this episode for the books, and I am happy to tell you your Library's got them. Takeaway 5 Dive into the stacks A few things to know here. First of all, let's say you can't figure out what's next on your reading list. Your librarian can help. They might ask, what do you like to do? What are you interested in? What books have you read that you loved in the past or what movies do you like?

[Michael Threets]

Librarians have a unique way of listening to those conversations and picking different pieces of what they say and relating to books to movies, like saying, oh, you like this movie? I bet you didn't know it was based on this book, and then getting them to check out that book. For a lot of adults, it's tying them to nonfiction, showing them that their interests are something that they could read about.

[Mariel Segarra]

You can also look for books on the displays that librarians put a lot of heart and thought into, and you.

[Akilah Bhatt]

May find something there that you have never thought you would read.

[Mariel Segarra]

When I talked to Akilah, her library had an Amelia Bedelia display and another one on banned books. Something else to know about library books. You can always go into the library and look through the stacks to find what you want, but you can also go online, log into your account on your library's website, browse the catalog, put a hold on books and pick them up or download them if this is your preferred method. A couple tips. 1. Don't put a hold on 10 books at once. If you can't read 10 books in the same checkout period, you're just stressing yourself out and blocking other people from reading the books for no reason. Depending on how fast you read or how busy you are, you may want.

[Akilah Bhatt]

To only request a few books at a time.

[Mariel Segarra]

Also, when you're searching the catalog, sometimes there'll be three or four records of the same book in the same format.

[Akilah Bhatt]

You know, people, when they search the library catalog, they will go to the first record that they see, and that's why sometimes there are too many holes on that record.

[Mariel Segarra]

But if you scroll down, there might be another record of the same book with fewer holds on it. So put a hold on that one. You'll have less competition and probably get the book faster. If you're borrowing digital content like an ebook or an audiobook, there are a few ways to get it. One of the main systems libraries use is called Libby.

[Akilah Bhatt]

They have ebooks, they have audiobooks, they have streaming media, they have magazines. So it is one of the best that we have out here.

[Mariel Segarra]

You can download the Libby app, connect your library card to it, and then borrow books to read on your phone. Or you could send them to an E reader like a Kindle or Nook, or download them from the Libby website and read them on your computer. Now, let's just take a moment here and talk about how you should care for physical library books. I know that some books are hard to put down. But please do not read them while you're eating, especially if it's a greasy hamburger or something else that's going to make a mess. Also, Akilah says, don't read them in the bathtub.

[Akilah Bhatt]

That's where most of the accidents happen.

[Mariel Segarra]

Keep library books out of your bathroom in general. Oh, and another thing.

[Akilah Bhatt]

We have recently thought about making a display out of all the things we find in our books, so.

[Mariel Segarra]

Oh God, what do you find in the books?

[Akilah Bhatt]

Oh, we found tissues and we found a credit card. Yeah, but tissues are our worst enemies when we see them.

[Mariel Segarra]

Nasty. Yes, don't leave your tissues in the books. While we're on this topic, that brings us to takeaway. 6. Be a good library patron. Libraries are community spaces, which means we play a role in keeping them going. One simple way to do that is to visit the library and get a.

[Michael Threets]

Library card that helps library workers immensely. Just for us to have statistics about how many people have a library card.

[Mariel Segarra]

Also, use the resources, but take care of them. Try to return them on time. Akilah's library doesn't charge late fees.

[Akilah Bhatt]

We find that when people have fines, they are afraid to come back to their library and check out books. And we don't want them to feel embarrassed. We want them to be able to access books anytime. However, we still appreciate library customers returning books on time just so that it's fair for all customers and everybody still has access to those wonderful books.

[Mariel Segarra]

Another thing you can do is donate books. If your library can't use them, it might be able to sell them and then use the funds to offer more programs and services. You can also donate objects like that wheelbarrow or the ukulele you don't want anymore. And if you can, volunteer, anybody that.

[Akilah Bhatt]

Has a special talent, we welcome them so they can share the talent with the community. An example is, you know, if you know how to crochet, go to the library and let them know that you would like to start a crochet club.

[Mariel Segarra]

And, you know, if you're really feeling the love for your library, maybe you send your librarians a letter of support.

[Michael Threets]

They love community members more than anyone in the world. They're the kindest, most empathetic people in the entire world. It would make their day to receive a letter from you.

[Mariel Segarra]

And Michael says, just keep on yapping about the library. Spread the word.

[Michael Threets]

Talk about the library to your family, to your friends, to your neighbors, to strangers on the streets, for lack of a better word, Annoy people with your enthusiasm for your local library all right.

[Mariel Segarra]

It'S time for a recap. Get yourself a library card. They're free and all you need to do is fill out a short application and usually to have proof of residence in the city or state. Learn about all the things you can borrow from your library. Gardening tools, saxophones, sewing machines. It'll depend on your location, but we know there's good stuff you're missing out on. Find out what services your library offers. You may be able to get one on one help with your job or housing search or with a homework or a legal question. Attend a library event. There are concerts, pet parades and all kinds of other things on library calendars. Don't put a hold on more books than you can reasonably read at a time. Don't leave your tissues in the books and return them on time. Also, when you're at the door of the library, unsure where to start with a search or a query, ask a librarian we are here to serve you.

[Akilah Bhatt]

We are here to help you find what you're looking for. We are here to guide you and we just want to welcome you to our space. See?

[Mariel Segarra]

Who wouldn't want to send Akilah a nice letter? By the way, did you know that Life Kit has its own newsletter? We have so many smart, supportive listeners that send us amazing tips and they're often featured in that newsletter. If you want to be part of that community, [e-mail] LifeKitnewsletter this episode of Life Kit was produced and fact checked by Audrey Wynne. It was edited by Sylvie Douglas and Meghan Keane. Our visuals editor is Beck Harlan and our digital editor is Malika Garib. Megan Keane is our senior supervising editor and Beth Donovan is our executive producer. Our production team also includes Andy Tagle, Claire Marie Schneider and Margaret Serino. Engineering support comes from Valentina Rodriguez Sanchez. Special thanks to Joan Johnson from the Milwaukee Public Library. I'm Mariel Segarra. Thanks for listening.

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