A Los Angeles Public library card can unlock a world of possibilities for kids young and old. The vast LA Public Library system offers dozens of branches across the city with a massive collection of children’s books and local programming. But did you know your LAPL card offers many free things to do and utilize outside of the library as well?
Free Things to Do With Your LA Public Library Card
1. Free Museum Passes
Living in Los Angeles means having access to a multitude of family-friendly museums and cultural centers. Thanks to your LAPL card, you can visit those museums and more entirely for free. Through the LAPL Discover & Go Program, Los Angeles residents 18 and over with a valid library card can reserve tickets for free to several museums and institutions, including the Natural History Museum, The La Brea Tar Pits, The Broad, the LA Zoo, the brand new Academy of Motion Pictures Museum, and more.
Free tickets can be reserved up to three months in advance and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Some restrictions apply to certain places. For full details and to reserve a pass, visit the LAPL Discover & Go site.
Free Things Your LA Public Library Card Provides Besides Books
In addition to all of the free things to do, your LAPL card also provides several free learning tools and resources.
2. Free Tutoring
Library cardholders can access free online tutoring daily via tutor.com. Tutoring services are available from 11am to 11pm for K-12 students and adult learners. Subjects covered include K-12 homework help (including AP and honors curriculum), SAT and ACT prep, adult learning resources, and tutoring in Spanish.
3. Free Audiobooks
Want to listen to books on the go? You can download thousands of free audiobooks from the library with selections for readers of all ages.
4. Free ebooks
If your kids prefer reading on their tablets, the library has you covered for that too! LAPL has a massive catalog of ebooks and digital comics you can reserve and download online. You can read as much as you want without ever even stepping foot in the library.
5. Free Streaming Movies
Gone are the days when checking out a movie from the library meant coming home with a scratched DVD you hoped would play. You can easily watch movies for free through several streaming platforms, like hoopla, with your library card.
6. Free Classes
Looking for enrichment classes that don’t cost an arm and a leg? With your library card, you can sign up for various online courses from crafting to languages, all for free.
7. Free Access to Magazines and Newspapers
These days nearly every major newspaper and magazine is accessible online only behind a paywall. With your library card, you can access major media outlets for free, including The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times, as well as kid-favorites like Highlights, Cricket, and Ladybug.
8. Free Streaming Music
You might have a hard time getting reluctant tweens to read a book, but they will be instant library fans when they discover that their library cards let them listen to music and podcasts for free.
Which of these free services from the Los Angeles Public Library have you utilized? Share anything we missed in our Local Anchor Facebook group.
