I’ve always considered the library the fantastic place to “shop” on a shoestring. At the library, you can cart home bags of items to try, read/watch/listen to them—or not—and take ‘em back without guilt.

You can be frugal and recycle at the same time, and still sample anything you want to try for no charge–unless you forget to return it on time. Better yet, you won’t need more shelf space, and if you find something you simply must own, at least you’re certain you want it before you buy.

How much better does it get? Funny you should ask. It gets a lot better! If you can’t get to the library (but you have a computer) the library can come to you with items you can use online or download immediately without leaving home: books, music, films for kids.

How can this help you right now?

Here’s a holiday situation we can all imagine. Guests are coming at the end of the day. You’re cleaning, cooking, decorating the house, washing the dog and trying to amuse the kids who are home on school break. You can’t leave the house. You can barely sit down for a moment’s rest.

How can you keep the kids away from the TV, and get them engaged and involved in something that will help them become better readers? Surf on over to the library at kcls.org/kids, and explore the opportunities. You’ll find online magazines, book lists, reviews by kids and interactive sites that build reading and learning skills. If your youngster(s) are in preschool through third grade, click on and click on BookFlix to find watch-listen-and-read books just for them.

Another gem to try, especially for kids in upper elementary grades, try TumbleBooks for an engaging array of picture and chapter books, puzzles and games, language learning, new and nonfiction books for young readers of all ages.

If you have teens at home, point them to the library’s online Teens section at kcls.org/teens for booklists, homework help for that over-the-break paper, and programs for teens. If that doesn’t inspire them, try the selection of digital downloads at kcls.org/downloads where they’ll find instant access to books, music, and movies they’ll love. A KCLS library card is required to download materials. To sign up online for a KCLS library card, go to kcls.org/usingthelibrary and scroll down to the Library Cards link.

And, just for yourself, after your guests are gone and the kids are asleep, stoke the fireplace, curl up with some hot chocolate, and click on the link to Music Online in the lower right corner of the Downloads page kcls.org/downloads, and relax. You’ve earned it!