Libraries are cool as fuck and there's a place for everybody at the library! Need to study somewhere quiet(er) than a cafe? Library! Want to find something new and cool to read, watch or listen to? Library! Want to maybe take a class, go to a workshop, get help finding a job, look into your ancestry, access public archival records, gawk at some really old materials, maybe want to learn a new language? Library!!
There is always place for you at the library. Librarians normally have a master's degree in Library Information Science (yes, science!) and are professionally trained and educated to help you find what you need.
Libraries are one of the most wonderful places in the world and they are in danger now more than ever in many places so please, add to your library's statistics!
WorldCat is a free, global recourse that helps you track down library materials in just about any country in the world so you can find what you're looking for near you! they have 916 million recourses listed from local libraries worldwide, including books, articles, musical scores, maps, audio recordings and thesis papers.
LibDex is a free directory of libraries worldwide so you can find a library close to you. They don't have the option to search materials directly on their website, however they do have a pretty comprehensive list of libraries across the world including African, South Asian, Latin American and Middle Eastern countries, which are often forgotten in "global" recourses in favor of the global north. They do, however, have links to the listed Library's websites and catalogue's so you can quickly find what you're looking for!
OpenLibrary is a completely online, free to use library run by the internet archive, the same folks in charge of the wayback machine! This website is great if you can't get out to an in-person library or don't have anything local that's close or accessible enough for your needs. Libraries are for everyone!
And while we're on that note, The Wayback Machine (if you haven't heard of it yet) is a massive internet archive that keeps records of all internet sites across the web so you can access any website at any point in the internets existence (with reasonable limitation to what's been archived, of course.)
GCFGlobal is an online (yes, free!) library of essential life skill courses catering to the 21st century, aka the digital age we currently live in, and has the option to set the website to either English, Spanish or Portuguese! They have over 200 courses on everything from math, technology, work skills like career planning, job searching and job applications, core skills such as reading and finance, GED prep, online safety and digital skills, photography, social media, how to use tons of common digital application, and tons more!
Khan Academy is also great for learning essential skills like mathematics, science, social studies and history, college readiness and admissions, some arts and humanities stuff, LSAT and MCAT test prep, careers and financial literacy, I think you get the idea.
Alison also has tons of free courses on a much wider range of topics, including cooking basics and essential car maintenance.
With all that being said, please go to the library and use the free recourses available to you, support librarians, archivists and educators, donate to what you can, use everything! The library loves you!
