Library offer passport to entertainment savings

A friend recently shared a blog with me about the amount of money the average person saves by using the library. The author selected six of his local library’s digital services and estimated what the average person in the district spent per year on things like online courses, magazine subscriptions, foreign language learning software, tutoring/ advice, TV, movies and music.

I don’t know how much money you spend every year on those things, but that stuff can really add up. Off the top of my head, I thought of more than a dozen free services that folks can get with their library card instead of their debit card. I’ll share just a few of them.

- Books and e-books. Borrowing instead of buying them saves you money. Plus you don’t have to buy more book shelves. With OverDrive, get a constant supply of e-books and an added perk: no fines. OverDrive e-books return themselves at the end of the lending period. How much could you save in books, e-books, shelves and fines?

• TV, movies and music. Entertainment can easily nickel and dime a budget away with music downloads or subscriptions, cable/satellite television, Netflix and Redbox. Instead, visit ebonnerlibrary.org with your library card and stream TV Shows and movies with Hoopla. Get five free music downloads every month and stream music on Freegal. Both have a great selection of new releases and classics. You can also borrow CDs, DVDs and Blu Ray discs. Just about the time you get tired of them, you can return them and get something else. If you love them, you know where to get them again. We even have TV series for marathon Star Trek nights and such.

- Classes, tutors and apps. I get those advertisements for day-long workshops on Microsoft Excel, Adobe Illustrator and others all the time. In addition to the time away from work and gas to get there, these courses usually cost $50-$200. The Learning Express Library on our website offers courses on Microsoft Excel, Publisher, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word and more, along with Adobe Illustrator and others. We also offer such basic computer classes in-house and have tech tutors for help with using electronic devices. Mango Languages has a free mobile app and is a fun way to learn one or more of the 70-plus languages available. In addition to the myriad of tutorials and courses accessible from our website, you can also get help for academic studies, test preparation and job search advice through our Life Long Learning department.

How much did you figure you could save in just these three areas? Stop in to one of our branch libraries, the bookmobile or visit www.ebonnerlibrary.org to discover even more. Check out the schedule below to see how you can save money this week on classes, workshops and entertainment events at the library. All take place at the Sandpoint branch, 1407 Cedar, unless otherwise indicated.

- Friday, March 17 — Teen Writers Club, 3:30 p.m. Teens who write … unite! Collaboration, peer reviews, brainstorming activities. Writing supplies and refreshments provided.

- Saturday, March 18 — Computer class on internet basics, 8:15 a.m. sharp. The amount of information available on the internet is staggering. Learn how to sift through it efficiently to find useful information. Space is limited and preregistration is required; call 263-6930.

- Saturday, March 18 — Organic seed saving, 1 p.m. Come and discuss organic gardening and seed saving. Bring food and seeds to share if you can. If you can’t, come anyway! Info: Sandpoint Seed Library volunteer Camisse Nitkowski, 263-6248.

- Saturday, March 18 — Visual/Verbal Exchange, 2 p.m. Writers and artists of various mediums swap their works to create inspired original pieces to go on display at the library in April. A partnership of the library and Sandpoint Parks and Rec. Visit www.ebonnerlibrary.org or call 263-6930 for information.

- Saturday, March 18 — Wildlife Lecture Series: Myths, Fallacies & Folklore, 2 p.m. Where is the line between fact and fiction with our local wildlife? Brought to you by the American Heritage Wildlife Foundation and the East Bonner County Library District’s Clark Fork branch, 601 Main.

- Monday, March 20 — Water color class, 3:30 p.m. A free, four-class series for third- to fifth-grade age children; taught by Cheri Tilford. Supplies provided. Preregistration required; call 263-6930, ext. 1211, or email suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesday, March 21 — Mother Goose, 10:15 a.m.; for children ages 0 to 3.

- Tuesday, March 21 — Preschool Storytime, 11 a.m.; for children ages 2 to 5.

- Tuesday, March 21 — Robotics with Lego Mindstorm, 3 p.m. Learn to build or code. For boys and girls age 8-plus at the East Bonner County Library District’s Clark Fork branch, 601 Main.

- Tuesday, March 21 — Make It at The Library, 3 p.m. Kids and families create with robotics, Arduinos, needlework, Legos and other projects. At the East Bonner County Library District’s Sandpoint branch, 1407 Cedar St.

- Tuesday, March 21 — Teen Tech Week – 3D Design with Fusion 360, 4 p.m. at MakerPoint Studios, 1424 N. Boyer Ave. Learn the basics of this industry standard software with experts Matt and Mike. Each participant will have one part printed. Space is limited. Preregistration is required; call 263-6930. A partnership of the library and MakerPoint Studios.

- Tuesday, March 21 — Clark Fork Stories and More, 10:30 a.m. Stories, crafts, prizes and snacks for kids ages 3-8. Event is held at East Bonner County Library District’s Clark Fork branch, 601 Main.

- Wednesday, March 22 — Crafternoon: “Delicious Dragon Tails,” 2 p.m.; free family fun with crafts to take home.

- Wednesday, March 22 — Clark Fork Make It at The Library, 2 p.m. Kids make a variety of age-appropriate projects. East Bonner County Library District’s Clark Fork branch, 601 Main St.

- Wednesday, March 22 — Teen Tech Week: screen printing, 4 p.m. at MakerPoint Studios, 1424 N. Boyer Ave. Design your own T-shirt. Shirts included. Each participant will have one part printed. Space is limited. Preregistration is required; call 263-6930. A partnership of the library and MakerPoint Studios. Funded by The Idaho STEM Action Center through the PK12 Innovative STEM Project Grant.

- Thursday, March 23 — Little Mozart music class, 9:45 a.m. An eight-week series with instructor and Spokane Symphony flutist Jennifer Slaughter. A partnership of the library and the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint.

- Thursday, March 23 — Water Color Class, 3:30 p.m. A free, four-class series for third- to fifth-grade age children, taught by Cheri Tilford. Supplies provided. Preregistration required; call 263-6930, ext. 1211 or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Thursday, March 23 — Teen Tech Week: laser engraving and cutting, 4 p.m., MakerPoint Studios, 1424 N. Boyer Ave. Learn to design an object for engraving and cutting. Each participant will take home a finished piece. Each participant will have one part printed. Space is limited. Preregistration is required; call 263-6930. A partnership of the library and MakerPoint Studios.

- Saturday, March 25 — Computer class on internet security, 8:15 a.m. sharp. Learn how to keep yourself safe in the sometimes perilous world of the internet. Space is limited and pre-registration is required; call 263-6930.

- Saturday, March 25 — Genealogy workshop, 1 p.m. Discover the many resources to research your family tree from Sandpoint History Center experts.