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Free Books

August 24, 2018

I can hear you right now, how can I get in on this deal. Do they really have free books? AudioBooks? Free books??? What else do they have for free? On a trip to our public library in San Antonio, TX several weeks ago I was just blown away by the whole incident.

My kids are 24 and 25. I dont usually go to the library much these days, but I kinda wanted a certain book and it was not at the local Barnes & Nobles. I wondered if the public library had a copy of Early Retirement Extreme by Jacob Lund Fisker. I fumbled through their computer and ended up asking someone for help. And help they did with my free books.

Everyone was very nice and talks with that calm, smooth talk like you are listening to KRTU, my favorite radio station. This is so UNcharacteristic for city workers. The woman asked for my ID and quickly got me into the system. I now had a library card. It had been about 40 years since I had one.

I kept thinking, do I still have that library book from years ago. And did I ever take it back? Good thing I was NOT still in the system.

I got a credit card sized library card with all the numbers so that they could scan me. But also I got a little bitty one that fits on my key chain. I keep it in my wallet but it really belongs with your keys. With my new card, not credit card, I can get free books whenever I want.

Big deal, right? There are libraries across the country. What really blew me away was that they not only have books like a typical library, but also they have audio books, dvds, cds, and for you oldies they even have some vhs tapes. There were San Antonio Business Journals, Business magazines, fashion magazines, you name it, they had it.

Not only could you check out the items, but they told me that I could check items out online. Online? Thats crazy. I downloaded “Libby” on my phone. This app lets you check out the books online. I put in my library card info and I was set. Libby is not only a reader but also a device to play the audio books. It is all seamless with this app.

I checked out a book on economics and read it with the reader app. My search for books that I really wanted to read was on. I wanted to read, “The Big Short” by Michael Lewis. It is a big book and I almost dreaded reading it for the next month or two. To my amazement, it was available as an audiobook. I had to wait a few days because all copies were checked out. Then I got a notification that it was available and I took it.

Maybe I am just an old dude, but I had someone reading to me for over 9 hours. AND it was free!! Free is my favorite. I did not have to pay $20 or $30 for an audio file that now takes up large amounts of space on my phone. If I want to hear it again, I can just check it out again.

I am on hold for “Your Money or Your Life” by Vicki Robin with an introduction by Mr. Money Mustache. Someone known for a very frugal lifestyle in Colorado. Also I have, “Death of the Banker, the decline and fall of the great financial dynasties and the rise of the small investor” by Ron Chernow. “Your Money” has about a 7 week hold time, while “Death” is about a week.

Can you just go out and buy some books or audio books? Sure you can, but why spend $200 or $300 a year when there are free books? Now before even going on Amazon I check to see if it is on Libby. I know I am going to save a bunch of money. Just with these few items in the last month I know I have saved over $100.

You are probably already saving money on your Home, Car and Eating out already, but this is free books.

I cant believe that I listened to over 9 hours on the sub prime debacle that led to the recession of 2008 in less than a week. It was that interesting. Both of the other books on hold are audio books. I was never a big fan of audio books until now. I can listen to all kinds of books for free. Did I mention that I LOVE FREE??