Many people greet the new year with the optimism of change, but it can be difficult to maintain those changes long-term. Below are some common resolutions people make, and ways the Jacksonville Public Library can help you keep those resolutions and reach your New Year potential:
#1. Read More
If your New Year's resolution is to scratch more titles off your "to be read" list, the library is a perfect place to befriend. Book lovers who don't utilize the power of a library card are seriously missing out on opportunities to explore new titles while saving tons of money. Spending $5 - $25 on one book may not seem like a huge investment, but it adds up quickly. If you read one book per week at an average of $15 per book, you would spend about $780 on books throughout the year. Your library card is totally free, and provides access to physical books, eBooks, audiobooks, and so much more.
#2. Eat Healthier
Eating healthier is a common resolution for many around the new year. Cook books can be a great tool to spark creativity in the kitchen and learn techniques to make healthy food taste great. The Jacksonville Public Library is constantly adding new books to our catalogue, so you can find endless inspiration on the shelves in the cooking section. If you're interested in learning more about nutritional health and building better eating habits, there is a plethora of informative documentaries to stream on Kanopy, including Hungry for Change, Food Matters, and The End of Meat.
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#3. Learn a New Skill
In the digital age, staying up-to-date with technology can seem intimidating. However, access to information makes sharpening your skillsets and learning something new more attainable than ever. Whether you're looking to boost your business know-how or master an element of design, we can't recommend Lynda.com enough. Library patrons have unlimited access to thousands of courses taught by real-world professionals, plus completing courses looks great on your resume and LinkedIn profile!
#4. Work Out
Working out can seem like a daunting habit to build, but it doesn't have to be! Whether you're looking to work out from home or in a group setting for added motivation, the library can help you reach your fitness goals. Kanopy offers Great Courses for fitness training, yoga, and exercise tips that you can stream from a laptop or mobile device. Various library branches also host health and wellness classes, such as yoga and Tai Chi, that are always free and open to the public. The Main Library even hosted a Pure Barre Pop-Up during Art Walk in December, and we're planning to host more in the future!
#5. Travel More
If your plan is to splurge on plane tickets in 2020, library resources can help you get ready. If you want to learn a foreign language before you leave for your next trip, you can create a free account on Transparent Language with your library card. Transparent Language is a self-paced, online language-learning system that offers courses in over 100 languages. Travel guides and documentaries can be a great tool to prepare for traveling abroad, both of which are available for free at the library.
