Hello...Can You Hear Me?

If you sung this post’s title instead of reading it, then I can only assume that you are under the same Adele spell that took hold of me from the very first time I heard that glorious song. Seriously, I know it’s played everywhere constantly, has been spoofed on Saturday Night Live, and remade with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots using classroom instruments (my personal favorite), but I CAN’T GET ENOUGH. So, you can imagine just how thrilled I was to realize that I could get Adele’s new album, “25,” for FREE! Yes, I’m talking about the same album that is featured in Target commercials as a critical Black Friday purchase. No, it doesn’t involve being trampled by crazed bargain-hunters. Yes, I said free. And, yes, you can have it too. All you need is your library card!

If you’re not familiar with Freegal, a fabulous music service provided by our library, it’s time to change that! With your library card, you can download five songs each week to your computer and/or smartphone from Freegal’s massive music directory. Unlike most things you check out from the library, these songs are yours forever. So, that means you can download almost half of Adele’s new album right now (or more, if more than one family member has a library card!). Now, THAT’S something for which we can all be thankful this Thanksgiving!

If you want some more tips on other life-changing library services, check out my Top Ten post from last Thanksgiving here.

And if you’re wondering what Adele has to do with early literacy, you bring up a great question...But, I have an answer! Singing with your children is one of the five early literacy skills that we promote at the library. So, if you’re singing Adele’s songs (or one of the many children’s songs found in Freegal’s catalog), you’re helping to improve your child’s early literacy skills. See? I wouldn't let you down! J Have a safe, happy, and music-filled Thanksgiving!

Top Ten Reasons Why I'm Thankful for My Library

10. Where else can you go where everything you get is FREE?! We’ve got free books, free movies, free video games, free magazines, free music, free eBooks, free Wi-Fi, and much, much more!

9. Did I mention free music? Have you heard of Freegal? With your library card, you can download five songs every week from Freegal, which has millions of great songs from which to choose. And the best part? They’re yours forever!

8. Great programs! From baby storytimes to adult computer classes, the library has programs for every member of your family. Check out our calendar of events to find one that’s perfectly suited for you.

7. We’ve got TONS of information. With thousands of books (and access to millions more), a wide selection of research databases, and reference librarians here to assist you, the library is THE place to come to start your research.

6. With so many online resources, you can enjoy lots of the benefits of the library from the comfort of your own home. Checking out eBooks, downloading music, using TumbleBook Library, and renewing the items you’ve checked out, are just a few of the things you can do online, without having to leave the house!

5. Bonus services! Did you know that our library has passport services and notaries on hand? We’re like a one-stop shop!

4. If you’re having a hectic day and need to regain your sanity, you can stop in, find a comfy chair, and drown out your troubles with a great book. Ahhh...

3. Our booklists! If you’ve run out of books by your favorite author, finished the last book in a series, or just plain don’t know what to read next, we have booklists for kids, teens, and adults to help. Check them out for some great reading recommendations!

2. Need computer access or a place to print, copy, or fax? We’ve got you covered!

1. The librarians! You didn’t think I’d write a whole post about the library being awesome without giving myself a little shout-out, did you? J Seriously, though, as librarians our most important job is to help you. Whether it’s suggesting a great book to read, locating books you can’t find, or assisting you with just about anything else (we’ve heard it all!), we’re happiest when you’re happy.