I have always loved libraries. Did I romanticize the concept as a child watching Beauty and the Beast? Possibly. The idea that information and knowledge should be publicly available should be a concept accepted in the same way that freedom of speech is focused upon. The plea for getting a library card in 2025 isn’t just based upon an idea, it is based upon a threat posed against libraries in a variety of ways.
The biggest harm against the system of information used to be the push for restricting access to books. People are familiar with banned books, a form of censorship that seems to go against the very freedoms we continue to fight for. The problem has escalated to more than restricting access to certain ideals and beliefs.
The Trump administration is actively working to dismantle the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services by withholding funding, which could ultimately lead to the Institute being a thing of the past. So yes, you should really get a library card today.
Table of Contents
Why you should get a library card:
BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS
Not everyone will understand my love for walking the seemingly endless rows of books at the library. Libraries have books, yes. Books can be a form of escape. A way to travel to far away lands and different timelines. I could try to convince you to read all day long, but even I know that you can’t always force someone to read (and enjoy it).
But a library card gives you access to more than just physical books.
Do not underestimate the power of reading books on your phone or tablet. Your library card gives you access to ebooks, which means that you can attempt to get back into reading anywhere. For Free!
Digital media
Okay, maybe I didn’t convince you to get a library card simply on the premise that you might get back into reading novels.
Maybe, you are more into reading about the newest fashion trend, or you just like looking a pictures in magazines. You may be the type to buy magazines with good intentions, but then life happens and it ends up being just another thing you need to throw away. With a library card, you can look through all the magazines without the expense and investment.
Stream media without the increasing price tag
Recently, my Netflix subscription increased in price (yet again). Prime Video now urges you to pay an additional price to skip the advertisements that they introduced into their streaming service. Everything is getting significantly more expensive. But you know what continues to be free? A library card!
I love Kanopy. Kanopy is a streaming service that is free with a library card. With a library card, you are allotted a certain amount of credits per month which allows you to “rent” titles. The options are vast, currently including Blades of Glory and a Photographic Memory.
Kanopy is great particularly for kids, who get an unlimited amount of credits on their separate section of the service. The credits that libraries allow on a monthly basis differ based on the library (and I’m assuming the funding that they receive).
For example, I am given 15 credits with Riverside Public Library per month. On the other hand, my Department of Defense library provides 60 credits per month. I would definitely recommend procuring more than one library card, especially if you are hoping to get more credits monthly.
I enjoy having a mix of documentaries, shows and movies. Of course, you’re not going to find everything on Kanopy, but it does frequently update its repertoire.
APPS
Libraries provide access to a variety of applications. The Department of Defense Library provides access to several applications, including Mango Languages, Universal Class, and tutor.com.
The application that I am hoping to make more use of is Mango Languages. I’m hoping to get the kids to learn Tagalog, but it is significantly difficult since I started later on in their childhood.
Museum Access
I really just learned about this last month, but this perk is actually one of my favorites already. I love a good museum. I love being able to visit beautiful works of art, but even more when it’s free.
Libraries frequently partner with museums like The Museum of Us and the Children’s Museum in San Diego to provide free access to library members.
Last Thoughts
Each library card gives you different access to a multitude of opportunities. I am still learning more about what I am able to access through the use of my library card. I’d be remiss not to remind you, dear reader, that our libraries are in danger of losing funding.
The current administration’s plan to reduce budget allocated for libraries and museums can potentially limit our ability to access free resources. Lawmakers who are still attempting to monitor what we read will be the least of our concerns if free educational resources aren’t provided at all, especially in areas that already lack funding before the new plan was initiated.
Even if you don’t think that you need one at the moment, the easiest act of support is getting a library card at your local library.
