I love libraries. I love being able to surround myself with books, DVDs, magazines and all sorts of FREE goodies. Long before I became a librarian I was a proud library user, so I thought I’d start sharing a few of the many, many reasons that I love libraries. To start off with, let’s talk travel!
I’m currently planning my next epic adventure, and the library has been an integral part of my planning process. To be sure, the internet is a great resource (which can also be accessed for free from the library), but seeing as I spend the majority of my life in front of a computer, there are times when I just want to unplug and tuck my nose into a travel guide (or ten). Also, I don’t always have internet access when I travel, which can make having a physical guidebook very handy. This brings me to my first travel-related library love:
TRAVEL GUIDES
Travel guides are not cheap, ladies and gentlemen, and I don’t know about you, but I like to sample different guides to make sure I’m getting a well-rounded view of a particular destination. For my current trip I’ve been using Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Fodor’s Guides, Eyewitness Travel and Frommer’s Guides – each company has a slightly different perspective and focus, and is written for a different audience, so I like to combine them to make sure I’m getting as much information as possible. Plus, as someone with champagne tastes and a beer budget, I sometimes need to think outside the box to maximise my budget-to-experience ratio….
Not sure where to find travel guides, or wondering which guide might be right for you? Librarians are masters of finding information – really, it’s kind of our thing. So, don’t hesitate to ask your local librarian for help finding just the right travel guide for your adventuring style and budget.
I’m trying to learn as many phrases as possible before I leave on my trip, which leads me the next travel-related library love:
LANGUAGE LEARNING RESOURCES
However you learn best, there’s likely a language learning resource that’s perfect for you just waiting at your local library. I prefer a mix of visual and audio learning aides, so I’ve picked up a few CD/book sets to help get me started. You can also pick up handy phrasebooks and of course language dictionaries. Don’t discount picture dictionaries, either – I used one to communicate with a non-English speaking doctor on an overseas trip once, and it came in very handy when trying to explain my symptoms… Plus, if any of the language guides you’ve picked out don’t quite suit your learning style, you’re not out a penny (assuming you return them on time and don’t drop them in the bathtub of course…), and you can simply exchange them for something different! Perfect for language learners who are watching their spending.
Finally, exploring the culture of your destination can be a great way to prepare yourself for a trip, or to help tide you over while you wait impatiently for your departure date. Whether you’re looking to explore a country through fiction, memoirs, movies, TV shows, magazines or music, your library can help you plunge headfirst into another culture. Time for my final travel-related library love:
DIVERSE COLLECTIONS
Wherever you’re going, you’ll likely find it represented in some form at your library, so definitely take a look, and check with a librarian if you need help finding just what you’re looking for.
There are so many reasons that I love my library – hopefully this little post has inspired you to take another look at your local library, especially if you’re a traveller on a budget!
Happy travels!