1. Borrow a Ukulele, Binoculars, Studfinder, and More!
You already know libraries have books to borrow, but we have games, puzzles, electronics, music equipment, and items for your home, too! You can find all kinds of items in our new Library of Things collection.
2. Download eBooks and Audiobooks to Your Device
Buying eBooks and Audiobooks can add up fast; a subscription to Audible costs about $15.00 per month, or about $180.00 per year. With your library card, you can instantly download free eBooks and audiobooks to your device! Whether you’re about to hit the road on vacation (or hit the highway for your daily commute) or you need something to read on your lunch break, our downloadable materials are just a few taps away.
3. Gain Career Skills and Prepare for Tests
Whether you need to teach yourself a new skill to improve your resume or you need to prepare for an important test, you can explore our online learning options by logging in with your library card. One of our most popular resources is Lynda.com. Normally a subscription to Lynda.com costs between $20.00 and $30.00 per month, but it’s free with your Addison Public Library card!
4. Skip the Magazine Subscription
With your library card, you can stop paying magazine subscription fees and download directly to your smartphone or computer with RB Digital! You can read popular titles like Bon Appetit, Chicago Magazine, Food Network, Country Living, HGTV, Star Magazine, and more with just a few clicks.
5. Book a Meeting Space
Need to host a meeting or work on a group project? With your Addison Public Library card, you can reserve a room for you or your group at no cost.
6. Get Free or Discounted Museum Passes
Use your library card to log into Explore More Illinois and browse for offers on attractions like the Chicago Children’s Museum, the Discovery Center Museum, the Homewood Science Center, and more!
7. Find Your Family’s History
Use your library card to search our genealogy resources for free and learn about your family’s heritage.
8. Use Our Computers
Did you know more than a quarter of U.S. households don’t have a computer with an internet connection? With your library card, you can log onto our computers any time the library is open. You may also borrow our laptops for in-library use.
9. Be a Smarter Consumer
With your library card, you can access Consumer Reports for free and learn all about the best products on the market, from appliances to laptops to tires and more. Additionally, you'll save money every time you borrow one of our books, movies, or other items instead of buying them!
10. Find Your Next Hobby
Whether you’re into crafting, car repair, podcasting, 3D printing, or just about anything else, your library card can help you express your creativity. You can book our Sound Studio for your music or podcasting project, get free access to CreativeBug’s online crafting classes, request a 3D print, learn how to fix up your home, and use the equipment in our Creative Studio.
11. Write a Book
Aspiring authors can use their library card to self-publish their books! Log into Pressbooks to organize and edit your book and choose a design to bring it to life or use Biblioboard’s SELF-e program to share your eBook with libraries across the state.
12. Borrow Books
Having a library card means you can go on a ‘shopping’ spree for new books to read without having to pay for them or find room on your bookshelves. You can borrow bestsellers, the newest books by up-and-coming authors, and so much more from our collection. We receive an average of 1,440 new books per month, so there’s always something new to read!
In a reading rut? We’re always happy to recommend something you may like or set you up with a personal reading list or a themed Book Box.You can always place a reserve on an item and pick it up when it’s ready, too.
13. Request an Item
Want something that’s not in our collection? We can either order the material you want and add it to our collection or direct you to Find More Illinois, a free service that allows you to search other Illinois libraries' catalogs and request the item yourself!Our staff are trained to find hard-to-find books, articles, genealogical material, and more from other public or academic libraries, so please don’t be shy about asking us to find whatever you may need!
14. Homebound Delivery
Addison Public Library cardholders who are homebound for at least four weeks due to disability or illness may request library items to be delivered to their home. Call us at 630.458.3320 to get started.
15. Receive Privileges at Other Libraries
Most public libraries in our area honor an Addison Public Library card if you register as a reciprocal borrower. That means you have access to even more amazing library services and materials just by having a library card with us!