Senior to Senior: Public Library

Most seniors know a “good deal” when they see one, which makes me wonder why so many of them ignore the best deal of all, the Public Library. Not one of my family members, friends, or neighborhood acquaintances make use of the public library. I mean really… have you checked out the price of books, print or audio, and movies these days? What is it about “free” that people don’t understand. Why in the world would anyone, especially seniors, buy a book or DVD when they can borrow it for free. They say they want to keep favorite books or movies to read/watch again, but face it, do you really have enough time left to do that? Everything is more expensive these days, which is fine if your income has increased proportionately, but if you are living on social security, investments, and savings, it may be a stretch. Seniors know how to economize. We’ve been through tough times before. We learned how to be frugal and to live within our means, and we can do it again. We read books. We learned how to feed a family of four on $20 a week, traveled Europe on $5 a day, grow produce in a window box, and we could fix almost anything with “How-To” books from the library. Today, the library is more than just a repository of old books. Public Libraries have bent over backwards to remain relevant, available, and free. The mission has remained unchanged; they aim to give you access to information, literacy, learning, and culture. This is a big deal. Today you can find eBooks, audiobooks, traditional print books, videos and educational apps. At the library you can browse, take a class, use the computers, join a book club or research your genealogy. You can browse, sit and read, or just shelter from the heat or rain. Libraries may be the last truly public institutions. In a library, no one is asked to pay for anything. It may be the last place that you can go to enjoy peace and quiet, and just be. The Public Library is, and always will be, the heart and soul of your community.