• the_q@lemm.eeEnglish
      8·
      2 days ago

      Technically not free, but because so many people think it is it’s a great poster child for proper use of tax dollars and socialist programs. Libraries rock.

    • duckworthy36@lemm.eeEnglish
      17·
      3 days ago

      Our library loans out state parks passes for a month so you can go to parks for free. It also loans out hiking gear, provides immigration resources, and oddly, a ukulele.

    • Steven McTowelie@lemm.eeEnglish
      33·
      3 days ago

      On a whim I googled my city’s library and “tools” and I found a non-profit society that specializes in lending of hand and power tools! This is incredible and I wouldn’t have known about it without this prompt: thank you!

      • BackgrndNoize@lemmy.world
        4·
        3 days ago

        Can you share the name of this non profit society, is it a part of your local public library or it’s own independent thing?.

        I need a spanner for like single hex nut and I don’t want to buy one for it to collect dust in my drawer lol

        • Steven McTowelie@lemm.eeEnglish
          2·
          2 days ago

          Yeah mine was called the [City Name] Tool Library, and it was a non-profit that was independent of our local library. I imagine that they receive donated tools from contractors and companies around the city.

          As an example, I googled a random city name (Calgary) and found one for them as well: https://calgarytoollibrary.org/

          There are likely tons of similar organizations throughout Canada (and probably your country as well!)

    • loopedcandle@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
      4·
      2 days ago

      Adding the library-libby nexus. Most libraries have an eBook collection connected through Libby. I’ve got a Kindle and zero books bought from Amazon. It’s great.

      Protip, if you went to any form of formal education (college) then you probably have alumni library account access. My Libby has three library cards logged in. I never wait for a book.

    • starlinguk@lemmy.world
      2·
      2 days ago

      Nope. 15 Euro a year (Freiburg, Germany), which doesn’t automatically renew and it’s a bloody pain.