Banned Books Week runs October 4 to 10, 2026, with the theme “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read.” Honestly, the best way to celebrate is to actually use your library card, because that little piece of plastic does way more than check out books.

Free library card perks, one by one

One honest note before we start: every perk below depends on your library system. Your cousin’s library in another state might have something yours does not, and the other way around. We will show you how to check at the end.

1. Ebooks and audiobooks in your pocket

Download Libby, find your library, and sign in with your card number. Libby lets you borrow ebooks, audiobooks and magazines for free with a library card. Popular titles have waitlists, so place holds early and let them roll in.

2. Skip the line on hoopla

If your library offers hoopla, you can stream ebooks, audiobooks, comics, music, movies and TV with most titles available right away. Your library sets the monthly limit. At San Francisco Public Library, for example, it is 30 Instant Borrows and 10 Flex Borrows a month.

3. Movie night on Kanopy

Kanopy streams documentaries, classic films and indie movies with no subscription. Libraries give you a monthly allowance; Jefferson County Public Library in Colorado, for instance, gives 30 tickets a month, and Kanopy Kids is unlimited. Got little ones? That last part is gold.

4. Museum passes for the whole crew

Lots of libraries lend free or discounted passes to local museums, zoos and gardens. In New York City, Culture Pass lets cardholders 13 and older from Brooklyn, New York and Queens public libraries reserve visits to 100+ cultural institutions. Search your library’s site for “museum pass” and book before a free weekend.

5. State park day passes

Several states let you check out a park pass like a book. California’s State Library Parks Pass covers day entry for one vehicle at more than 200 state parks, and this year’s state budget made its funding ongoing instead of year to year. Other states run their own versions, so ask your branch. Fall leaves plus a free pass? That is a whole family day.

6. Career courses and job help

Many libraries pay for LinkedIn Learning so you do not have to. Cleveland Public Library cardholders get free access to 16,000 courses, with certificates of completion. Log in through your library’s page, not LinkedIn’s homepage. While you are there, ask about free resume reviews and computer classes.

7. Wi-Fi hotspots (ask, do not assume)

Some libraries still lend hotspots, but the federal money behind many programs is gone. The FCC voted on September 30, 2025 to end E-Rate support for hotspot lending. Call your branch. If they stopped lending, the free Wi-Fi inside is still there.

8. A library of things

Need a drill for one weekend or a telescope for one starry night? Some libraries run a “Library of Things.” Montclair Public Library in New Jersey lends items like a ukulele starter kit, telescope and a video to digital converter. That last one is how you save those old family tapes.

9. Free seeds for Grandma’s garden

Seed libraries hand out free seed packets, often for edible and native plants. At Montclair, the seed library does not even require a card. Fall is a good time to ask about cool-season greens and what to save for spring planting.

10. Free tax help in the spring

Libraries are a common home for IRS VITA sites, which offer free tax prep to people who generally make about $70,244 or less, plus people with disabilities and limited English speakers. Sites book up fast, so put a January reminder in your phone now. Our Q4 money checklist has more deadlines to watch.

11. A second (or third) library card

Many people qualify for more than one card, through where they live, work or go to school. Libby lets you add more libraries under Menu, then Add Library, so you can search several collections and shorten your waits.

How to check your library card perks

Go to your library’s website and look for tabs called “Digital Library,” “eResources” or “Borrow.” Or call and ask one question: “What can I get with my card besides books?” Librarians love that question. If you do not have a card yet, most public libraries issue one free with a photo ID and proof of address.

Want more free things to do this month? Our October Black culture calendar has dates worth saving.

What is the best thing you ever got with your library card? Drop your hack in the comments.