10 reasons to make The Library part of your routine

You can buy eBooks on Amazon and paperbacks at your local book store. You can enjoy free WIFI with purchase at the coffee shop. You have access to educational opportunities with tuition. You can do extensive research using Google or another search engine.

So, is The Library really even needed anymore? Here is a short list of the many things you can get with one-stop shopping at the Library, and nowhere else.

1. One stop selection of books, music, movies, games and more.

2. Use of computers, scanners and fax service at no direct cost (your tax dollars already covered it).

3. Transactions are made with your library card, not a credit/debit card.

4. Ad free, no cost music and movie streaming.

5. Learn a language with Mango Languages from the Digital Library or mobile app.

6. No late fees on eBooks or streaming services. Late fees on DVDs, books and other materials never exceed 50 cents (unless they are lost or damaged).

7. Tuition-free education and skills development

8. Unlimited, secure, high speed WIFI (and you don’t even have to buy coffee to use it).

9. Knowledgeable staff to help you research both sides of an issue without bias.

10. Tinker with technology such as 3D printing and virtual reality with no commitment to buy.

Communities need libraries to provide open access to resources we need every day. Take advantage of these and more services available to you with your library card and make the library part of your regular routine.

The following classes and events take place at the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar Street, unless otherwise noted.

East Bonner County Library District schedule

• Fridays — Explore virtual reality (reserve sessions), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; reserve a 15-minute session in the VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Information: Contact the Tech Desk, 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

• Fridays — M.A.C. (Manga/Anime Club) for Teens, 3-5 p.m., Room 102. Celebrate fandom at The Library. Read, write, and watch your favorite manga and anime with other enthusiasts. Information, 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

• Fridays — Explore Virtual Reality (reserve sessions), 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.. Reserve a 15-minute session in the VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Information: Contact the Tech Desk, 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

• Saturday, March 14 — IWL Writers’ Contest: The Roaring Twenties, 9:30 a.m.-noon in the Community Room. Calling all authors! You are welcome to come and share your work with a seven-minute reading of your original material. Mingle with other writers and listen to their work. No registration necessary for this free event. All ages, genres and experience levels are welcome. Presented by the Library and the Sandpoint Chapter of the Idaho Writers League. Information: Mame Cudd, 480-213-0109 or Mike Bauer, 208-265-2665.

• Saturday, March 14 — SHS eSports at The Library, 1 p.m. in the Rotary Teen Lounge. Making eSports available to high school gamers by facilitating healthy competition on a varsity level in a comfortable environment is the mission of the HSEL. The Library is partnering with the SHS eSports team in that mission. Information: kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

• Saturday, March 14 — AHWF wildlife presentation on migratory songbirds, 2 p.m. at the Clark Fork branch library. Join us for a fascinating presentation from American Heritage Wildlife Foundation about migratory birds. Information: 208-266-1321.

• Mondays — Open play, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in Karen’s Room. Drop in and play with Legos and other building toys. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211.

• Mondays — ASL for Homeschoolers, 11 a.m. in the Laura Moore Cunningham Community Room A. Students of various ages can drop in to learn American Sign Language with instructor Judy May. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211.

• Tuesdays — Mother Goose, 10 a.m., in Karen’s Room. Stories and singing for babies and toddlers 0-3 years old and their caregivers with stay and play until 10:40 a.m. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

• Tuesdays — Preschool Story Time, 11 a.m., Karen’s Room. Stories and crafts for kids and caregivers. Info.: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

• Tuesdays — Explore virtual reality (drop-in sessions); 3-6 p.m., drop-in 15-minute sessions. First come, first served. All ages welcome. Under 18 must accompany parent consent form. Information: Contact the Tech Desk, 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

• Wednesdays — Clark Fork Mother Goose, 10:30 a.m. at the Clark Fork branch library. Stories, rhymes, and music for toddlers and their caregivers followed by 20 minutes of play time. Information: 208-266-1321.

• Wednesdays — Storytime, 11:30 a.m. at the Clark Fork branch library. Stories, music, and crafts geared to ages 3-6. All welcome. Information: 208-266-1321.

• Wednesday, March 18 — Beads, 2 p.m., Clark Fork branch library. Make a beaded creation to take home for free! Geared to ages 8-14, all welcome. Information: 208-266-1321.

• Wednesdays — Teen Lounge Passive Pop-Up Programs, 4 p.m. in the Rotary Teen Lounge. Teen-driven art, engineering, robots, and science projects and workshops as space allows. For more inforamtion, call 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or email kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

• Wednesday, March 18 — Science Café: Vaping in the Schools. 5:30-7 p.m. in the Innovia Foundation Community Room B. Join us as Spencer Smith, School Resource Officer with the Lake Pend Oreille School District facilitates an open community discussion on vaping in the schools. Science Cafe is an informal discussion forum facilitated by an expert. Bring your discussion items and questions! Information: 208-265-2665.

• Thursdays, March 19 — Girls Who Code, 4-5 p.m., in the VR Room. In this 10-week program using immersive activities, you and your team will build a Girls Who Code project to solve a real-world problem. For additional information about Girls Who Code, go online to their website at girlswhocode.com

• Thursday, March 19 — Cosmology: Einstein, Hubble and the Smoking Gun, Part 2. 6-7:30 p.m. in the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation Community Room A. Join us for an introduction to Edwin Hubble’s observations of an expanding universe, led by Emeritus Professor of Physics at Univeristy of Idaho, Dr. Philip Deutchman. Questions and discussion are encouraged. Information: 208-265-2665.

• Rotary Teen Lounge — Open to seventh-12th graders from any school/homeschool; Mondays-Thursdays, 2-6 p.m., and Fridays, 2-5 p.m. For more inforamtion, call 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or email kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

• StoryWalk — Pages from a children’s book are posted along a trail for a fun, family experience. In March, enjoy “Bear Came Along” by Richard T. Morries at Dover City Park and “Searcher and Old Tree” by David McPhail at McNearney Park. Read, connect, and get outside at a StoryWalk, a partnership of The Library, Kaniksu Land Trust, city of Dover, and city of Ponderay. For more information, go online to Facebook.com/BonnerStoryWalk.

Marcy Timblin is in charge of public relations, marketing & community development for the East Bonner County Library District. She can be reached at 208-208- 208-208-263-6930, ext. 1204.