biglitsellouts

[biglitsellouts]

What is a “Library of Things?”

Libraries will always be most associated with books, and probably to a lesser extent, being shushed (even though that seems to be frowned upon these days). Since the advent of the internet, they’ve also come to be associated with computers. Many people don’t realize that libraries have been offering more mixed media items like movies, music, and even video games in some instances for some time now. With that being said, it may take the public at large some time to wrap their minds around the idea of checking out something like an Instant Pot or Polaroid Camera from their library, but that’s exactly what a library of things is all about. 

The name could probably do with some workshopping, but that isn’t to say it’s inaccurate. Much like how a library is traditionally viewed as a community-owned collection of books, a library of things is a community-owned collection of random stuff whether it’s ukuleles or snowshoes. It seems odd at first, but consider the nature of borrowing books from an establishment in the first place. Now consider how that’s not too far off just borrowing a book from a friend, then consider how you might also borrow a movie from that friend, or a video game, or a cup of sugar, or a lawn mower, or a tent. People are inclined to borrow things from each other for many reasons, in part because it’s a way of helping one another, but also because it can save them space and money. You might borrow a guitar from the Jefferson Parish Public Library because you want to learn how to play one, but even a cheap guitar might be to steep of an investment if it ends up being something that you just don’t like. Being able to borrow something like that from your local library, much in the same way you might borrow it from a friend or family member, almost completely eliminates all risks. I’ve never been camping, and would like to try it someday, but the idea of buying a tent really puts me off, so being able to borrow one helps open up that possibility for me. 

Ultimately, libraries are part of a community, and few community institutions are so built around helping each other in an indirect way where those involved may not even realize it. You probably wouldn’t borrow a ladder from a stranger, but borrowing one from your local library is basically the same thing and makes it okay. A library of things continues the tradition of helping people help each other without realizing it.

[biglitsellouts]

Music Recommendations from Hoopla

In my experience, music circulates the least of any library materials, and in the era of streaming services where an artist’s entire catalog is available for a reasonable monthly fee, I get it. That said, the dependance on internet connections and outright cost can still be too much for people sometimes, especially if some of your money is already going into your local library anyway. Hoopla is probably the jack of all trades resource that most libraries grant access to in that it offers books, comics, movies, music, etc., but for this article we’ll be focusing on its musical offerings. While it has your usual suspects of classical music (Beethoven) to contemporary hits (Taylor Swift), there’s an entire spectrum in-between that I’d like to highlight. Admittedly though, these recommendations would likely also fall under the “contemporary” tag, but both of these albums are over ten years-old, and would qualify as under-the-radar gems. 

The first recommendation is Soviet Kitsch by Regina Spektor. This album was just before her first major breakout hit, Fidelity, and long before she did the theme song for Orange is the New Black, but for many core fans of her, it’s her best work (certainly my favorite). It’s similar enough to her more popular albums that fans of that material will definitely enjoy this, but also has an edge to it that sets it apart. I mean, there’s even a punk rock song on it. It’s Regina Spektor at her most playful, and is all the more endearing for it. Whether you enjoy pop or folksy singer/songwriter music, if you’ve missed out on this album, then you owe it to yourself to check it out on Hoopla. 

This next album’s a bit more recent than Soviet Kitsch and that’s Plastic Beach by The Gorillaz. I’m not sure if I’d call it their best album, but I’d argue it’s their most immediate and pop-focused. They really nailed the blend of pop, dance, hip hop, soul, rock, and electronic music in such a way here that it can’t help but feel like this impressive celebration of music in general. The vibe is just infectious, and even if you don’t love every song on the album, you will love at least a few. The variety on display here, and level to which the songs are executed is such that is rarely seen in music, so it’s just a reliable inclusion in anyone’s music library. 

[biglitsellouts]

Libby and Audiobooks

A common blind spot I see among library users, especially younger ones, is audiobooks. My experience is anecdotal, but many don’t seem aware that the ebook services that most libraries offer includes audiobooks. This is to say that they can be checked out and downloaded in much the same way an ebook can be checked out and downloaded for offline viewing. Many seem to think that when it comes to audiobooks and libraries, it’s exclusively the multi-disc CDs that come in big boxes (more and more cars these days don’t even have CD players!). What’s especially strange is these younger patrons are absolutely aware of services like audible which also provide audiobooks, but for a fee since Audible is owned by Amazon. Many of them are paying for audiobooks their library system already has ready and waiting to be checked out through apps like Libby or even Cloud Library. This might just be a marketing problem on Libby’s end as much as it is for the libraries themselves, but it’s a problem nonetheless, so this post is going to recommend two audiobooks available on Audible that are also available on Libby. 

Dune ($30 on Audible, free with your library card) is experiencing a resurgence in popularity recently thanks to the film adaptation by Denis Villeneuve, and it just so happens that the book has one of the more in-depth audiobook treatments with multiple readers providing voices for multiple characters. This lends the audiobook a more theatrical quality than it would otherwise have, and makes getting immersed in the world and terminology that little bit easier than simply reading the book. You still probably won’t know what an Orange Catholic Bible is when a character first mentions it, but that’s not quite so jarring when the presentation is this good. 

Catch-22 ($17 on Audible, free with your library card) is a confusing book to read the first time-around, but a lot of that confusion is remedied when a professional is reading it to you and doing dramatically different voices for the countless characters. Confusion is in the nature of the story which can be frustrating for some readers who have difficulty putting up with that, but this version read by Jay O. Sanders does just enough to make the story feel more natural. It goes a long way towards showing the clarity that audiobooks can offer in understanding confusing books.

[biglitsellouts]

Why You Should Be Using Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports is one of those resources that people seem to have heard of, but never properly used outside of older demographics. This is a shame, because it’s one of the most useful resources on offer at most libraries, especially through the convenience of the website. For those that don’t know, you usually have to pay to access Consumer Reports, and as such there are no ads, and it is entirely informed by consumer feedback surveys. This isn’t to say it’s free of bias, but it is free of corporate bias from any brands, so you know you’re only being recommended what the staff and readerbase genuinely like on a more objective level. This is a useful resource to have when making an informed decision on any kind of purchase, but especially expensive ones like a car or large appliance. They even have articles on more esoteric things like banks, insurance, or even veggie burgers. 

The most commonly associated thing with Consumer Reports is probably cars and their reliability rankings. Each year they’ll rank the most reliable and satisfying car brands and models, as well as their most recommended models, and which ones are available for the best deals at the end of the year (this is usually the best time to buy a car). You can research specific models and see their year-to-year reliability for any inconsistencies, as well as get an idea of what’s a fair price to pay for one, new or used. Cars are one of the quintessential large purchases most people make, second only to a home, so you can’t be too informed when buying one, especially if you’re financing. 

On the more esoteric side of things that Consumer Reports also has information on is water filters. Odds are you probably have a sink in your house and need to drink water, but are wary of tap water. The obvious solution to this would be to filter your water, but given that this could directly affect your health, it’s best to research this. Luckily, Consumer Reports has this useful list of their highest rated faucet-mounted water filters that you can consult for a high quality option that’s within your budget. This is just one example, but it goes to show the spectrum of items that Consumer Reports covers. It never hurts to check what they have to say before making any kind of long term purchase.

[biglitsellouts]

Kanopy Recommendations

When it comes to sheer entertainment value, few of the digital resources libraries offer can match Kanopy. While it’s not quite as fully featured as streaming services like Netflix or HBO Max, it still has a more than respectable selection of movies. You might think it would only have strange, low-budget cult films that no one’s ever heard of, and while it does have those, it also has plenty of more recent films, critical darlings, classics, and really just some of the greatest movies ever made. There’s also a healthy selection of foreign movies, and they get a lot of movies featured in The Criterion Collection which says a lot. 

I wanted to take the time to highlight two films on Kanopy that I’d recommend to anyone. The first is a documentary called Feels Good Man which is about the iconic meme character, Pepe the Frog, and how he was co-opted by the far right to represent things he never had anything to do with. It’s a surprisingly tragic story that goes in-depth with Pepe’s creator, and how he feels about his character essentially being stolen from him. What started as a dopey character born from college dorm humor became twisted into something that in some circles is listed as a hate symbol. 

The second film is called Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai by Jim Jarmusch who's done more recent movies like The Dead Don’t Die and Paterson. Jamrusch’s movies are known for drawing a line between music culture, literary references, and pulpy film genres to create something with a fun, self-aware indie spirit that also makes you think. Ghost Dog is no different, and it stars Forest Whitaker as a mafia hitman who follows a strict samurai code from the book Hagakure. The story takes place in 90’s New Jersey and has a soundtrack done by The RZA from The Wu-Tang Clan. There’s a fun intersection of hip hop culture, samurai movies, and mafia movies that makes Ghost Dog feel truly unique. 

Whether you choose to watch one of these movies, both of them, or none of them, the point is you should check out Kanopy. It’s bound to have something you’ll like, if not something that’s not readily available on other streaming services. Best of all is that it’s free with no ads!