I have been frequenting the public library here in Victoria almost daily since I moved here a couple weeks ago. It truly is a music lover and a musician's best friend, particularly if you are of the unemployed/impoverished variety. Here's why:
1. CD's! The music collection here in Victoria is unbelievable, and includes new releases and tons of local talent. With all the downloading going on these days, most people forget the pleasure of listening to music in album form with liner notes handy. Why not have a personal collection of thousands of CDs at your fingertips?
2. Instructional books/CDs/DVDs! Learn to play just about any instrument or at least a dozen styles of guitar.
3. Music scores! Again, tons of music books arranged for any number of instruments so you can expand your repertoire.
4. Internets! Ok this one isn't necessarily music related, but with internet access you can do a million music related things, like check out my blog for more hot tips!
5. Books about music! Because music is awesome and knowledge is awesome.
6. Videos about music! Documentaries about musicians is just the tip of the iceberg. Cinema is rich in musical tradition and if you open your eyes you'll probably see something life changing.
7. Awesome library services! Most libraries these days will allow you to search their catalogue online and place holds on items that are currently signed out. If they are part of a network of library branches, they usually have a service that will deliver items from any library to your home branch. You can also generally track your account and renew material online.
8. Own fewer things! This might be a tough sell for some folk, but libraries offer a sure-fire way to lighten your load physically and spiritually. Not just for travellers and the poor, buying less and sharing more is a guaranteed path to better social connectivity, increased financial freedom, a heightened sense of well-being and a happier planet.
9. FREE! FREE! FREE! It actually blows my mind every day that all of this is available for the low low price of nothing. In today's world where people want to put a price tag on everything and equate that price to its value, it's unbelievably refreshing to see an institution that embraces real public access.
So of course I was really upset to see that B.C. has recently cut library funding by 22%. It comes as no surprise that B.C. libraries are regarded as among the best in the world, and it will be sad to see their quality deteriorate as a result of these cuts.
Go check out your public library. Discover the awesomeness. Tell everyone you know that libraries are super and worth supporting.
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