3 Surprising Things You'll Find at Libraries These Days

In an era when printed books aren’t always enough to lure readers, many public libraries are, well, branching out.

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Woman at the library, she is searching books on the bookshelf and taking a textbook on the shelf, hand close up
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In an era when printed books aren’t always enough to lure readers, many public libraries are, well, branching out. Most will allow you to check out e-books online. But if you stop by in person, you may go home with more than a summer beach read.

Eclectic Loaners
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Eclectic Loaners

From musical instruments to sports gear to screwdrivers and gardening tools, many libraries offer rental gear for hobbies and household projects. Some even venture into the wild to offer kayaks, canoes and camping equipment. Having a party? You may be able to borrow a cotton-candy maker or karaoke machine to make it special.

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Classes
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Classes

Whether you’re looking to brush up on basic computer skills, learn to code, try yoga or improve your diet, you’ll likely find classes or workshops at a nearby library. Recently, more than 1,000 libraries throughout the country offered personal finance programs as part of Money Smart Week. And libraries are even offering free or low-cost workspace to business start-ups.

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3-D printers
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3-D printers

Hundreds of libraries across the country will let you give 3-D printing a try. You may be required to take a class before using the machine and pay a few dollars for materials.

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Kaitlin Pitsker
Kaitlin Pitsker
Associate Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Pitsker joined Kiplinger in the summer of 2012. Previously, she interned at the Post-Standard newspaper in Syracuse, N.Y., and with Chronogram magazine in Kingston, N.Y. She holds a BS in magazine journalism from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.