It is not Costco. Or Goodwill. Or that place with all-you-can-eat shrimp.
It is certainly not the big-box store that boasts doorsbusters or the online retailer with overnight shipping.
For people eager for a cost-effective social outing, look no further than the library. From tech support to legal clinics, from crochet classes to sculpture making workshops, visitors can tap into events and resources without swiping a credit card. The books are just a slice of the offerings.
On a Sunday in early December, Henry Leng walked into the President Barack Obama Main Library in St. Petersburg and took a seat at a crafting table. He was here, along with some two dozen others, to learn to make stamps.
Leng, 29, grew up in St. Petersburg. As a teenager, he’d visited the library for book clubs, but his engagement withered in early adulthood. Now, with the reopening of the renovated main branch, Leng hopes to revive that relationship.
In the shadow of a loneliness epidemic, and with economic pressures on Floridians’ minds, Leng said he sees libraries as an antidote — a third space where people can connect.
“A goal of mine is to make more friends that have different interests and different experiences, and to learn from them,” Leng said, etching a reindeer into a piece of foam at the free workshop. “I think it’s just wonderful that we have opportunities to come together and have fun.”
He’s already signed up for a free sewing class in January and a book club featuring the works of Florida authors.
“Three of my friends are signed up, too,” Leng said.
Sparking joy is part of the mission, said St. Petersburg Library Services Manager Megan Danak. A frequent favorite is “Bad Art Night,” which asks adults to embrace imperfection in a judgement-free zone. Awards go to whomever was deemed to have created the silliest piece.
Many libraries offer free access to local museums. In Hillsborough, the Discovery Pass program lets library card holders register for free tickets to institutions including the Tampa Bay Aquarium and the Glazer Children’s Museum. Pasco County residents can also access Hillsborough’s library services. In Pinellas, patrons can borrow passes to attractions including the Museum of Fine Arts, Sunken Gardens and the Imagine Museum.
“It’s truly the best deal in town,” said Kailyn Middleton, New Tampa Regional Library branch manager.
Offerings vary by library, and each county system keeps an online calendar of workshops. Many host passport application sessions. Others partner with external organizations, like the Community Law Program — a local nonprofit — to host free law clinics where people can get help navigating certain legal affairs. There are Medicare counseling sessions, American Sign Language classes and U.S. citizenship application courses.
Libraries have long offered children’s programming, like storytime circles, to promote literacy. But over the last 15 years, Middleton said, libraries have dramatically ramped up adult programming.
“There’s a shift in how the public views us, especially because of changes in technology,” Middleton said. “The library is trying to stay on the forefront and provide services the community needs.”
Many libraries offer one-on-one tech support, like help navigating a new phone or computer. Maybe you need a hand filling out a job application or building a resume? They can help with that, too.
Adults can earn high school diplomas and GEDs by completing courses offered through the library, as well.
In-person events and services are open to anyone. But a library card, which is free and easy to sign up for, expands access to online resources.
People with Kindles, tablets, computers and smartphones can download ebooks through Libby, an online catalogue. Hoopla, a digital streaming service, offers access to movies and music, including recent releases like “The Life of a Showgirl.” Hillsborough patrons can access the popular New York Times cooking and games apps through the library’s digital portal.
Back in St. Petersburg, holiday music played as attendees of various ages, races and professional backgrounds stamped paper gift bags with their freshly made creations.
There was 65-year-old Christy Haynes, who moved from the Panhandle less than a year ago and appreciated the opportunity to socialize.
There was 40-year-old Charlene Morton, who was eager for a chance to be creative — to stretch the muscles that can fall dormant in adulthood — and who wanted a place to be without the obligation of $9 iced coffee purchase.
And there was 41-year-old Alison Thornsberry, who learned about the crafting opportunity after attending a story sing-along with her 3-year-old son.
“I usually come to events at the library with him, but today, I was like, ‘Somebody watch him, I want to make stamps,’” she said, laughing, while sketching a snowman.
Her family has used the library’s museum passes and its seed library, which provides access to free seeds for herbs and other plants. A friend recently told her she had checked out a baby piano for her kid. And her husband, who can be extremely shy, signed up for a film club.
“Whatever you’re interested in, there’s something for you,” Thornsberry said.
Libraries are open for walk-ins.
To register for events throughout Pinellas County, visit the event calendar at pplc.us/events/month
For those in Hillsborough County, visit https://hcplc.org/events
For Pasco County Library events, visit https://pascolibraries.org/events/events-calendars/