Do you have museum passes?  It’s a frequently asked question here at the library, especially during school vacation and in the summer.  The short answer is, “No.” But don’t despair, because you’ll love the longer answer!

Basically, because we’re such a small town, buying the library passes from the museums simply doesn’t make sense — they’re expensive annual subscriptions that are only available at fixed prices, so we pay for them whether they get used or not. But we’ve got a better idea.  In 2009, we started a new program that reimbursed patrons based on a discounts schedule that varied from museum to museum.  Today, we’ve made a good idea even better — simply give us the receipt from your museum visit and we’ll reimburse you half off your total ticket cost.

Now the most frequently asked question at the library may be from us to you: “Which museum are you going to visit first?”

We’ll be celebrating those precious 2 hours, plus our new budget, new trustees, new computers, new shelving, and all the other great things happening around here.  Enjoy food and drink while you explore and tour the place.

If you’re on Facebook, “like” the library (because we know you do!) and RSVP.

Or just swing by after you visit the Transfer Station. See you then!

Check out this handy-dandy calculator.  It adds up the value of all the things you borrow. How much can you save by borrowing instead of buying?  The dollars you save may surprise you. (You can guesstimate your usage, or you can log into your account through the online catalog and see your history.)  The average American checks out 7 books and/or movies from their public library every year; to purchase those 7 items, it would cost approximately $150. If you’ve got a family of four, you could save more than $600 just by using the library — or to put it in terms that we New Englanders can really appreciate, more than 200 gallons of heating oil!  None of this considers the cost of rentals from the likes of Netflix or Redbox, or the monthly access fees for streaming services, or the ever-increasing cable TV bill.  The borrowing fees at Langdon Library are free. We don’t even charge late fines!

In fact, libraries are in fact among the most effective of all American public services. According to national averages, libraries serve more than 2/3 of the public, and they do so with less than 2 percent of all tax dollars!  In 2011, Langdon Library served patrons over 8,000 times and constituted approximately 1.6% of Newington’s overall budget.

To many folks, libraries provide a value that can’t be quantified in dollars and cents — but it’s nice to know the math works, too, isn’t it? As always, we thank you for your support on March 17th, and all throughout the year.