Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Don't Lose Your Head

Tip Of The Day: The mind is a terrible thing to waste – or, in the words of my favorite misquote, what a terrible thing it is to lose one’s mind. Thank you, Dan Quayle! Don’t waste (or lose) your mind, keep it fresh by educating it for FREE. You heard it here, FREE. FREE classes and educational events are available at your local library.

Tip For Tomorrow: I need a little happy, so I’m going shoe shopping. Want to come with? Yes, I DID just end a sentence with a preposition. Sue me.

Further Elucidaton Of My Cheap Deal: I completely heart the library, as I’m sure you’ve noticed if you’ve read my previous posts. Wait, what, you haven’t? WHY NOT? WHERE’S THE LOVE? Well, go on and read them – we’ll all sit here and wait for you.

Finished? Good – now you have an idea of how I feel about the library and the glory of its cheapness. Of course, if you’re running up ginormous overdue fees, the library is not so cheap. Don’t feel bad, it happens to everyone now and then.

Anyhoo, one of my favorite discoveries about the library (besides the huge collection of DVD’s at the Shoreview location) are all the free classes and events they have available to their patrons. You know how I love FREE.

For example, the Ramsey County Libraries are offering classes in these two areas: basic computer skills and community television. That’s right, they have classes on how to 1. be involved in community TV and 2. produce your own shows for community TV. No, I’m even joking – we could all be on TV! How cool is that?!?

Over at the Hennepin County Libraries, they also have basic computer classes, as well as job search classes, small business counseling, healthy eating classes, and more. USER TIP: Check under All Events, not just All Classes to see the complete list of what’s available.

And guess what OTHER deal the libraries have cookin’? Don’t wanna guess? Okay, FINE, I’ll just tell you. Party-pooper. The Museum Adventure Pass, presented by Macy’s, which gives you freebies and discounts at TC museums. Here’s how the Pass works:
1. Go to your library and see which Passes for which museums are available that day. They are good for 2 or 4 admissions.
2. Using your library card, check out the Pass of your choice, like one for the Walker Art Center.
3. When you check out a Pass, the librarian will print out a receipt for you to present at the museum as payment.
4. The Passes are good for seven days.
5. Return your Pass by the seventh day, so other frugal folk can use it.
6. For more information, or for a list of participating museums, see the link provided below.

If you want to learn more about how you can improve your brain for FREE, go online to your county library’s web site and see what Events, Programs and/or Activities they have scheduled. Or, and here’s an idea, you can go to the ACTUAL LIBRARY and ask. While you’re there, check out a book, which is always cheaper than buying one. Don’t you feel frugal already?

Where To Search:
1. Ramsey County Library:
http://www.ramsey.lib.mn.us/
2. Hennepin County Library: http://www.hclib.org/pub/
3. Museum Adventure Pass: http://www.melsa.org/museumadventurepass/

4 comments:

Marketing Mama said...

I used to spend wayyy too much money on books. Now I am a faithful library patron. Although I still treat myself to a new book at the airport if I'm flying somewhere. They have great free events for children, too. We took advantage of the "museum passes" to go to the MN Zoo last summer - that saved us a lot of $$$. :)

Anonymous said...

I have used those passes and they are swell. However, at our library you don't actually check out the passes, and they put them right back out for the next person.

It is now time for me to admit my shame: My name is Larue and I have excessive library fines. I have had this problem since I was a child. I have had fines in excess of $100.00. It is truly shameful. My current fine hovers somewhere around $60.00. But I have a partially good excuse. I have horrible short term memory loss due to auto-immune illness. (At least this is what I am telling myself.) So the books always get back there, just late.

Which is why El Jefe and I broke down and got the B&N Discount Card. If we're spending the money, might as well buy the book. Although we are thrifty and bring them over to Half-Price when we are done.

I do not know if there is a 12-step program for excessive library fines, but I feel I might need it. (For shame.)

Anonymous said...

Well, arn't you all sorts of clever,
I've never heard of that before, thanks for the tip, I will definitly take advantage of the different types of passes.
Sorry, cant make it shoe shopping with ya tommorrow,
Can each shoe be under $20.00, so you can get a $40.00 pair and still stick to your deal, O.K. I know- kind of a stretch - I tried for ya.

TC Q

Anonymous said...

I love the museum pass idea! We(a couple girlfriends and I) use the library to check out their bookclub in a bag. They provide everything for your bookclub and you just have to check it out and return it within four weeks(I think). Another cheap idea from the library!