The Abington Free Public Library is well-known by many ASHS students as a popular, public space to study and work, and also as a resource to take out books. However, the library offers many resources that you may not be so aware of. Public libraries provide some of the best tools someone has in their community, especially if they are young and do not have access to expensive alternatives to the library’s resources. From the online request system to take-home volunteer projects and more, this list will showcase the less obvious opportunities that this establishment provides. 

• Hoopla, Libby, and Kanopy

If you are a big fan of audiobooks and ebooks, you may be excited to hear if you have not already that you can access a fairly large collection of these materials on your phone just using your library card. All you have to do is download the apps Hoopla and/or Libby and sign in with your card number. They both give you a limited number of borrows, but distribute them in different ways. On Libby, you can only take out a certain number of books at a time, and you cannot read a book if too many other people have checked it out. Hoopla gives you five borrows a month, but you can check out anything you want with no wait. Hoopla also has a library of movies, tv shows, music, and Bingepasses (which give you a free trial of a specific streaming service). There is also the service, Kanopy, which lets you watch educational videos and documentaries simply by using your library card. 

• Volunteer Projects

If you still need service hours or just want to help out in the community, the free library has many opportunities you can partake in. It has many events on its calendar that are specifically listed as short, one-off teen volunteer events, but you can also volunteer at other library events or festivals as a helper. There are also long running volunteer opportunities like Abington and Roslyn Reads (where you help teach young children literacy). Just check the library website or our own school’s service learning webpage. Another great opportunity are the take-home service projects, which allow you to complete service hours on your own time in your own house, and most have an unlimited amount of hours you can do them for so long as you keep delivering on the product. 

• Games, Puzzle, Etc.

For those who like to try a variety of games but do not want to financially commit to purchasing them all, the library has a large selection of board games, video games, and puzzles that you can check out. The video games are mostly for Nintendo Switch but with some options for Playstation 4 and 5. Being more expensive, the video games have overdue fines of $1/day after your checkout period of 21 days expires. The board games and puzzles are great for when you want to try something new for a game night without having to spend money. 

• Online Request System

If you log onto your library account using the website, you can look up items in the library catalog. If it so happens that you find what you are looking for but at a library that is further than you would like to travel, you can send in an online request and it will be shipped to a library of your choice for pickup. You can also use this mechanic to place holds on books and other items.

• Teen Craft Fair

For teens who like to create items and crafts that they wish to sell for profit, the Teen Craft Fair is an excellent opportunity. It shows up every so often, usually in the summertime, and you can sign up to run your own booth. It is also great for people who just want to shop for cool new things and wish to support their local young artists. 

• Museum Passes

The library has a collection of cultural and museum passes that can be checked out to get a free visit to a variety of museums and exhibits. These passes usually cover a specific number of people, usually split by adult and child passes, so be sure to check what each one is good for. They also only last for three days and have overdue fees, so be wary and plan accordingly. These bring forth a great opportunity for a cheap and fun day out!

• Q Crew

The Q Crew is a GSA-esque group for teens in grades 6-12 that meets at the Abington Free Library every second Tuesday. They focus on discussing LGBTQ+ issues and topics but all are welcome. It is a great place to meet people and make friends as well as partake in fun events and crafts.

• Bookcellar and Free Book Bins

Libraries are primarily known as a place to easily access books, but some people do not use them because they prefer to own books instead of borrowing them. However, the Abington Free Library has a couple of resources that allow you to obtain new books that are yours to keep. For one, they have a Bookcellar downstairs which has a large collection of gently used books you can purchase for cheap prices. There are also free books available in bins in the teen section and at the entrance of the library. These resources allow you to build up your book collection without leaving a huge dent in your bank account. 

• Festivals

The Abington Library has several festivals that serve as fun events to occupy an afternoon. Some of these include PrideFest, the Garden Festival, and the Summer Reading Kick-off Party. These all have many different booths and activities and are entertaining for all ages. They bring the community together and can be a great chance to learn about the local organizations that show up. You can also often volunteer to run booths at these festivals for service hours.

• Library of Things

I have discussed items like video games, board games, puzzles, and museum passes, but the library has plenty of other artifacts you can check out that you might not have expected. They have birding kits, CD and DVD players, educational kits for kids, Pickleball kits, a turntable, and more. Be sure to check out the library website under Library of Things to see all that they have in store!

• Events Calendar

The library is always adding new events and opportunities for community members, from teen yoga to adult writing classes to murder mystery and more. Check the events calendar on the library website frequently to see what new events they have to offer. 

Overall, the free library is one of the greatest tools we have at our disposal, and the more people utilize it, the better it will become as more attention is brought to its services. Hopefully you will find something on this list that intrigues you and inspires you to take a trip to your public library.