Your Library Card May Have More to Offer Than You Think

When did you last check what your library offers beyond books? A library website can be a starting point for a rainy-day project, a new interest or a family task that has been waiting in a box for years.

Virginia Beach and Norfolk provide two useful examples. Collections, equipment, eligibility and appointments differ, so check the specific service before planning a visit. A library card from one system does not automatically establish access to every service in another.

Virginia Beach: explore the Library of Things

Virginia Beach Public Library’s Books & More page describes a Library of Things with items beyond traditional reading material. Its examples include telescopes, coding robots, games and outdoor equipment. Think of it as a reason to check the catalog before buying something for a single experiment or outing.

Availability is the practical question. Review the item’s current listing, borrowing requirements, loan period and pickup arrangements. Ask library staff if an item needs instruction or has special conditions. Do not promise the family a particular activity until the item is actually available to you.

Norfolk: give the family archive a first step

Norfolk Public Library’s Innovation Hub describes a Memory Lab for digitizing older media, including photographs and recordings. Its service information explains access requirements and appointments. Check the current instructions and discuss the format you have before carrying in a box.

Start small: select one labeled recording or a handful of photographs. Ask what you should bring, which formats the equipment supports and how you will save the results. Avoid assuming every old tape, film or disc can be handled in the same session.

Make the first project manageable

Choose material you have the right to copy and handle it carefully. Write down what you know about each item before beginning: who is pictured, an approximate date and where the original came from. Mark uncertain details as uncertain rather than turning a family guess into a permanent caption.

After the session, open the saved files to confirm they work and organize them with understandable names. Keep a separate backup of important family material. Digitizing something is only the beginning of making it easy to find again.

Ask the librarian about the task

Instead of asking only where a book is, explain what you want to do. You may be looking for a digital resource, a program, equipment or help identifying the right starting point. Staff can explain the services available in that system and the requirements for using them.

A good weekend project: spend ten minutes exploring your library’s current services, choose one that fits a real interest and confirm the next step. A useful local discovery may already be included with the card in your wallet.