Page 14 - Bristol Magazine Spring 2025

All You Need is
All You Need is by Scott Stanton

Your Library Card
Your Library Card

What is a library card worth anyway? In these days of streaming video and digital downloads, isn’t a library card old-fash-
ioned? Actually, your library card is worth a lot. If you think of your library card as a subscription to all the library offers, it
turns out to be a pretty good deal. Where can you go to get a subscription to streaming movies and video, downloadable
audiobooks and ebooks, and digital newspapers and magazines, that also includes free or reduced-cost passes to area attrac-
tions and museums, access to computers and wi-fi, consumer, job search, and research help, plus accredited online classes?
What if the subscription also included experiences like concerts, crafting programs, presentations on numerous cultural,
educational and informational topics and film screenings? Oh, and throw in onsite personal reference and technology assis-
tance from a qualified staff person? Not to mention access to local history resources, a café to grab a cup of coffee, and ev-
erything from story times to fun and educational experiences for the kids? All one subscription, all one price: free. Not Bad!

Let’s look at how a family of four 860.584.7787 or visit the Circulation
might use the library over the period Desk.
of a month. Say they attend a family
movie at the library, borrow a stack of Most of our digital services are avail-
children’s’ books (5) and Patterson’s able to our patrons wherever they
latest novel, download an audiobook are, as long as they have a device with
on their device, stream a movie from an online connection (by the way,
the library website, and borrow a mu- ask a librarian about our free library
seum pass for four. To see the movie at app!). E-books, e-audiobooks, e-com-
the cinema might cost around $72.00 ics, e-magazines, and movies and TV
for the whole family (before popcorn shows, are available anywhere using
and goodies!). Books for the kiddos the Hoopla, Libby (Overdrive), and
and the latest Patterson could cost Kanopy apps on the library website.
$85.00 or more. Purchasing a cred- A library card from Bristol Public Li- Online classes with accredited CEUs
it for an audiobook from Audible is brary is free to all Bristol residents are free to take on the Universal Class
$15.95, while streaming a rented fea- (Subscription price: $0.00). Bonus: It app. Another popular service is dai-
ture movie could be anywhere from can also be used at all public libraries ly access to the New York Times and
$2.99 to $19.99 depending on the in all Connecticut towns. Can’t get to Wall Street Journal digital editions
movie, Four tickets to a typical mu- the library now? Register for a tempo- free of charge. Other available online
seum (two adults and two children) rary card online at the library website: resources cover food, world travel, au-
might total about $ 40.00. Total cost: www.bristollib.com. A temporary card tomotive and small engine repair, skill
$215.94 or more. Your price with a li- will allow you 30 days to come get a and career building resources (includ-
brary card? Free. Over the course of card in-person. In the meantime, you ing test prep for nursing, educators,
a year the savings can add up to real can use most of the online resources military and many other professions),
money. The more you use the library, on our website. For more information and, of course, basic research data-
the more you save! on getting your card call the library at bases.

14 Bristol Magazine - Spring Issue 2025