Swap That for This: Save Money with Your Library Card
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Date Posted: 8/18/2025
September is library card sign-up month! Did you know that EVERYONE who lives in Deschutes County—from newborns to centenarians—can get a free library card? If you’re reading this, chances are you already have and use your card. But are you maximizing your library card to save you money? From streaming movies to learning a new skill, your Deschutes Public Library card unlocks a world of value without the monthly subscription fees.
Here are six things you might be paying for that you can actually get for free through the library:
- Television and Movie Streaming: Supplement your streaming services with access to thousands of movies and shows for free with your library card. Kanopy has a wide range of movies, foreign films, documentaries, and a curated kids’ collection. If you prefer physical media, the library also offers new release and niche genre DVDs across all our library locations. Browse available DVDs in libraries or use the catalog to place a hold for your next movie night.
- Digital Audiobooks: Ditch the audiobook subscriptions! With the Libby app, you can stream and download thousands of popular titles at no cost. Download items for offline use, and you can enjoy audiobooks in your car through a Bluetooth connection.
- Language Learning: Want to learn Spanish, French, Japanese, or even Pirate? Get free access to Mango Languages, a powerful platform offering courses in over 70 languages. For even more language learning, Gale Courses offers a wide range of highly interactive, instructor-led courses that you can take entirely online like Spanish for Medical Professionals, Grammar for ESL, American Sign Language, and more.
- Craft Classes & Equipment: Whether you’re into watercolor or woodworking, your library has you covered. Take online classes through Creativebug, borrow tools and gear from our Library of Things collection, or discover the all-new MakerSpace for a dedicated area to plan and create. Additionally, dozens of free library programs are available each month to explore your inner writer, delve into the culinary arts, and get hands-on with crafty projects, all while connecting to your community and having fun!
- Magazines & Newspapers: Tired of hitting paywalls? Use your library card to access trusted newspapers and thousands of popular magazines online. You’ll find everything from Cook’s Illustrated to The Economist, and Us Weekly to The New Yorker. Your library card gives you free digital access to The New York Times, including NYT Games and Cooking, and the Wall Street Journal. Select physical copies of magazines and newspapers are also available at your local library branch.
- Online Learning: Build new skills, prep for tests, or work toward career goals using free platforms like Gale Courses, Peterson’s Test and Career Prep, and LinkedIn Learning, all available with your library card, no subscription needed.
Ready to start saving? Your library card gives you free access to all this and more. Don’t have one yet? Get a card today—it’s quick and easy for Deschutes County residents!