No Reading Required for These Goodies

So … librarians love reading. That’s no secret, right? It’s why we’re in the library business.

But even for bibliophiles, there may come a time when the idea of slogging through 500 pages just sounds downright draining.

And that’s okay. Libraries aren’t just “all books, all the time.” We make a very conscious effort to stock our shelves (real and digital) with more than just what’s on the New York Times Best Sellers list. After all — our mantra is that at Nashville Public Library (NPL), books are only half the story.

As we celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month, we’re here to remind you that, booklover or not, NPL has plenty of great reasons to get your library card. 

1. Metro Arts Lending Library Collection

Love original artwork? Love supporting local artists? Good! We do, too. 

NPL’s Metro Arts Lending Library is a collection of paintings, drawings, photographs, and other works created by Nashville artists. Curated with our friends at Metro Arts, the collection offers nearly 60 pieces that cover a wide variety of themes, colors, and more.

And the best part? You can take them home with you, for free, for up to three months. All you need is your NPL library card.

The collection is currently housed in our Madison and Southeast library branches, and is soon expanding with 53 new pieces across our Donelson, East, Green Hills, Hermitage, and Old Hickory locations.

So, browse our catalog, find the work you love best, and take it home for you and your friends to admire.

2. The Library of Things

Ever been shopping and thought, “I’d like to have that, but I don’t know if I’d use it enough,” or “I really wish I could try that before I buy it?”

We’re pretty sure we all have, and that’s what makes our Library of Things such a great resource.

From bake pans to badminton sets to air quality monitors and more, the Library of Things is a collection of useful household items that you can check out for free.

Whether you need some tools temporarily to complete a weekend project, a few kettlebells to try a new fitness regime, or a few yard games for a birthday party, this is the ultimate “try before you buy” collection in Nashville.

So, head on over to our catalog and find your perfect Thing now.
 

3. Board Games

Whether you need a little break from work or want to host a game night, board games are a great option for some analog fun. 

And NPL has plenty to choose from. 

From classics like Sorry! and Battleship to modern favorites like Pandemic and Ticket to Ride, we’ve got more than 100 board games that are sure to scratch your gaming itch.

To view the full collection of board games at NPL, visit our online catalog.

4. NPL BCycle Passes

Sometimes, the best way to escape the daily grind is to get up, get out, and get going. If you’ve got an electric bike to help you along, so much the better.

NPL BCycle Pass lets you take unlimited two-hour rides on Nashville BCycle’s fleet of electric cycles for up to one week, completely free of charge. 

The process is simple: 

• Check out an NPL BCycle pass from any of our 21 locations 
• Go to any BCycle station and use the pass to check out a bike 
• Ride up to two hours, then return your bike at any BCycle location
• If you want to continue riding, just check out another bike and keep on pedaling
• Once you’re done, return your BCycle pass to any NPL location

5. Free Seeds for Gardening

Borrow seeds. Grow plants. Return seeds.

Simple concept, right? That’s the method that hundreds of NPL customers have used to create their dream garden with NPL’s Seed Exchange program.

Through Seed Exchange, library customers borrow some of our seeds, cultivate their gardens, and then return some of their seeds after the harvest for other gardeners to enjoy. Plus, our team of librarian-gardeners can coach new growers or veteran green thumbs on how to improve their gardens.

To get started, head to the Seed Exchange webpage, see what seeds are available, and get to planting.

P.S. If you like what you see, be sure to sign up for our Seed Exchange email newsletter for the latest news, recommended gardening reads, upcoming events, and more. 

6. Streaming Movies and TV Shows

Sometimes, there’s no better break from life than flopping on the couch, vegging out, and binging your favorite flicks.

We know that all too well at NPL, and that’s why we’ve cultivated a great collection of streaming shows that you can enjoy, free of charge. From Oscar-winning films to smash hit TV shows to acclaimed documentaries, there’s something here for everyone’s tastes.

To start watching, simply search our online catalog for what you want to see, or see what’s popular across our streaming platforms Hoopla, and Kanopy.

7. Free Access to Worldwide Media

The New York Times. The Economist. USA Today. Rolling Stone.

You’ve probably at least heard of these publications, even if you’ve never read them. That’s how prominent their brand is in America.

But where do people living in Italy get their news and culture updates? Or Japan? Or Chile? Or anywhere else in the world, for that matter?

You can find out for yourself — at no charge — with PressReader.

Through this online database, you can access the most recent and back issues of prominent news and culture sources from around the world. It features more than 7,000 publications from more than 120 countries in more than 60 languages.

And all you need is your NPL card.

Check it out for yourself on our website.
 

8. Free Streaming Music

At NPL, we love music.

Seeing as how we’re based in Music City, that shouldn’t come as a surprise, right?

But more than just loving it ourselves, we want you to be able to access the latest tunes from your favorite artists whenever you want. And that’s why we’ve cultivated a great selection of free music at our Library.

From hometown heroes to chart-topping hit-makers, from singles to full-length albums, you’ll find plenty to love in our Freegal, Hoopla, and BoomBox databases.

Just use your NPL card info to create an account in each one, put your headphones on, and kick out the jams!

9. Your Family Tree

When did my ancestors immigrate to America? From which country does my family trace its roots? Am I the descendent of someone famous?

These are all fascinating questions that many people ask themselves. At NPL, you can trace the branches of your family tree — for free — with Ancestry Library Edition.

Available only in person at any of our 21 locations, Ancestry Library Edition allows you to access approximately 20 billion records dating back to 1790 from sources such as the Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, and court and military records to determine your family’s origins.

All you need to do is find your closest NPL location, stop by with your library card, and you’re on your way.

10. Online Comics

Okay, so … we know we’re pushing the whole “no books here” claim with this one, but hear us out.

Sometimes, the problem isn’t that you’re actually burnt out on all books — you may need some light reading. Instead of a 1,000-page epic to slog through, you might just need a piece of graphic fiction.

And if that’s the case, then Comics Plus is perfect for you.

Using your NPL account, you can access hundreds of titles from more than 40 mainstream and independent publishers. From ongoing superhero comics to original graphic novels to manga, there’s plenty to discover and enjoy.

Plus, you can read on a browser or your preferred e-reader, and there are no limits on the number of comics you can read at a time.