Of all the items I carry in my wallet, my Chicago public library card is the second most valuable — next to my driver’s license. Not only is the little green and white card the key to a world of possibilities; it is totally priceless. Let me tell you why.

1.Library cards are FREE. There are no fees, charges or taxes for owning the card. Just complete an application and provide proof of identity, a current address and Chicago residency.

2.Obtain a FREE education via books, periodicals, movies, museum passes, and other special perks offered by individual libraries. There is one main library, 76 neighborhood branches, and three regional facilities in the Chicago library system. Books can also be borrowed from suburban libraries according to the reciprocity policy. Therefore, this free education is very easy tao obtain.

3.Accounts can be accessed online 24/7 with a valid library card for FREE. Records will show how many books that are checked out; when they are due; and any other information that is relevant to individual accounts.

4.Conduct research from home for FREE. Periodicals and other reference materials used for research can be found on the library’s website 24/7. There are only a couple resources that can only be found on the library databases; otherwise, all other research can be conducted remotely.

5.FREE Internet and WiFi are available at all libraries. Library cards are required for internet access; WiFi can be accessed through individual computers.

6.Gain FREE entry into most of Chicago museums with museum passes. Passes can be checked out for up to seven days. Although they do not allow entry into the extra attractions at museums, patrons can walk in for no charge.

7.After searching for books online, patrons can request to have books sent to the ANY library of their choice for FREE. Books can be delivered to a branch close to home or not.

8.Other benefits include FREE author discussions, exhibits and programs for individuals of all ages.

Although the library system offers lots of free stuff, patrons do have to pay late fees and any charges accrued for items checked out if a library card is lost or stolen. Fines range from $.20 a day for books and music up to $2 a day for movies and museum passes. Fortunately, there are maximum fines per item. Patrons won’t go broke unless they have a lot of items borrowed.

Essentially, getting a FREE library card; access to a FREE education via books, movies, and museum passes; and FREE computer access, WiFI and online research are totally priceless.

Marcie Hill is a published journalist, business writer and blogger with an entrepreneurial spirit. She is the owner of The Write Design Company http://www.thewritedesignco.com, and has been writing, editing and publishing her monthly inspirational newsletter, “Shorty In Da House”, for over eight years.

Ms. Hill’s works can be be read in her newsletter or one of her many blogs including ‘As NOT Seen on TV’, http://asnotseenontv.info.

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In these tough economic times, we’re all looking for ways to cut back on expenses. Well, there’s a money saving card in your wallet – way at the back because you haven’t used it in a while. That’s right, it’s time to dig out the old library card. We all know that libraries loan out books for free, but it still seems like there are a lot more people shopping at the local bookstore or online at Amazon than at the library. Maybe it’s because they don’t always have enough copies of the latest books. Or maybe it’s that we forget to return books and then get charged a late fee. It’s time to take another look, because libraries are quickly becoming as friendly as the internet.

My local county library has contracted with a company call OverDrive, which offers AudioBooks and eBooks for download. Here’s how it works. The library has a certain number of copies of each book available. For example, my library has 21 copies of Eragon on AudioBooks. Anyone with a library card can go online and check out one of these copies. You download it to your computer, where it will stay for 14 days, at which time it expires. You don’t have to find the book and drive back to the library or risk a late fee. While it’s on your computer, you can listen to it, or if the license allows, you can burn it to CD or to your iPod! All of this is free to you!

If all 21 copies are checked out, you can put your name on the waiting list and you’ll be notified when the book becomes available. You can see the number of people in line ahead of you and how many copies the library has available, so it’s pretty easy to figure out when it will be your turn.

OverDrive also offers eBooks. This is a lot like the Kindle Books available from Amazon. You would have to purchase a reader, like the Sony Reader, which costs about $300. Then you could download books, magazines and newspapers to read on your mobile device. Most libraries don’t offer eBooks yet. They seem to be starting with AudioBooks to see how popular it is. If you’re interested in this option, let your library know. The more requests they get, the more likely it is that they’ll make it available.

Go to OverDrive.com to find out whether your library offers AudioBooks or eBooks, or go straight to your library’s website. If your library doesn’t offer this service, let them know that you’d like them to. Then make sure you have a library card!

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