Your local library is a wonderful place to check out books, but there are so many more unique benefits to having a library card than you may realize! Here is a list of perks you can enjoy at a nearby library. Some libraries only allow town/city residents to check out particular items or utilize certain services, so check the library website or call ahead.
Borrow a telescope, an American Girl doll, a Roomba, and more!
There are some surprising items available to borrow from local libraries, including iPads, science kits, and musical instruments. A pair of virtual reality glasses is available at the Reading Public Library, which saved me from buying them for my son. I was also grateful when I used my library card to try a Roomba and learned that my dog barks like crazy at it. At the Robbins Library in Arlington, you can borrow kitchen equipment, a yoga mat, American Girl dolls, and a sewing machine. You can check out a telescope and cake pans at The Public Library of Brookline. The Dover Town Library has tools, tents, and multiple American Girl dolls.
Some of the more popular items at your library may have a waitlist. (The SlumberPod at the Watertown Library is a hot item, for example, so reserve early if you’re hoping to travel with it!) Check the library website or ask a librarian for a list of items, often called “the library of things.” You’ll be surprised by all the fun and useful things available.
Get free or discounted museum passes
Your local library is a great place to get passes to many local museums. Each library has different offerings, but most have passes for free or discounted admission to places like the Museum of Science, the New England Aquarium, Boston Harbor Island ferry cruises, the Larz Anderson Museum, Zoo New England, and so many more. You usually need to reserve the passes ahead of time for a specific date, especially during school vacation weeks.
Enjoy special programs and classes
Most libraries offer story times for toddlers and preschoolers, but many offer additional programs for children, teens, and adults. In Arlington, you can attend yoga, a Nintendo tournament, and family game nights at the Robbins Library. The Somerville Public Library provides a gardening workshop, chess night, and crafting sessions. You can take an English language class, reserve a studio space, or volunteer to read to a dog at the Cambridge Public Library. At the Thayer Public Library in Braintree tweens can join a bracelet-making session or take a self-defense class. Most libraries also offer homework help sessions.
Join a club
If you or your child are considering joining a club, the library is the place to go. There are plenty of book clubs for adults and children, along with Lego, writing, and gardening clubs. The Robbins Library network has a walking club and book clubs for various genres. The Reading Public Library has a knitting club. The Hingham Public Library has an anime club for teens. And the Swampscott Public Library has a teen creative craft club.
Enjoy a free indoor playspace
When it’s just too cold, hot, or rainy to be outdoors, your local library is a great option for indoor playtime! Most public libraries have a dedicated children’s area with things like toys, puzzles, and games to use. Some libraries are real destinations for playtime, though. The Waltham Public Library’s “PIE” space (play, imagine, experience) is a museum-inspired, immersive environment where children play and learn interactively. There are rotating themes, like “construction zone” and “in the jungle,” with activities, props, and toys that promote learning-based play. It’s every parent’s dream!
Attend a movie or concert
Many libraries have free concerts or movie screenings for the community. The Public Library of Brookline and the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood have movie matinees. The Boston Public Library hosts concerts in its beautiful courtyard when the weather is warm, and there are occasional concerts in the winter. The Robbins Library network has weekly singalongs with wonderful local musicians for children and various concerts for adults.
