I know we cannot do many of the things our richer friends elsewhere are doing. However, we can have a peep into what they do and look for ways by which we can emulate them here. Here is an excerpt from *The Chicago Tribune*, 24 Sept 2015. So what can you get with a library card in 2015? You can rent GoPro cameras, use 3-D printers and check out wi-fi hotspots — for free. Computers and free wi-fi have become standard in libraries. But some — like the Evanston, Niles and Chicago public libraries — are moving beyond desktops. All three have media labs with video cameras, audio recorders and editing software. They're also experimenting with 3-D printers, allowing science-minded kids and teens to create plastic models of anything from robots to iPhone cases for free with the help of library staff. At the Niles Public Library, "we're just getting our feet wet," director Susan Lempke said. Her library boasts a laser cutter to cut and engrave solid materials, two creative studios — one with a green screen — and several GoPro cameras, which can capture cinema-quality video almost anywhere, anytime. Patrons can borrow GoPro cameras for up to a week.It lets me be more creative with how I use the computer," said Alejandro Leon, 13, an eighth grader at Nichols Middle School in Evanston. He was one of a handful of kids in the Evanston Public Library's teen-only space, The Loft, on a Saturday afternoon. Leon showed off his proudest 3-D printing success yet: a 6-inch purple Lamborghini. It took three hours to print. And the Chicago Public Library system loans out wi-fi hotspots — which allow users to connect to the Internet wherever they are —for three weeks at a time, from its Brighton Park, Douglass and Greater Grand Crossing branches. "My goal is to have 25 percent of our programs and services delivered outside of our walls," said Karen Danczak Lyons, director of the Evanston Public Library. The Evanston library is part of a larger group of local libraries that offer digital content through OverDrive. With a library card, readers can use OverDrive to download e-books, videos and audiobooks to their electronic devices. Content is automatically returned at the due date — no late fees.You can use the library from the comfort of your couch. Feldman estimates that more than 90 percent of libraries have downloadable content such as e-books, magazines, newspapers, audiobooks and movies. Then there is Hoopla. Hoopla is like Amazon, Netflix and Spotify all rolled into one convenient, free package. Library patrons can use this online service to stream movies, music, audiobooks and TV shows on their computers and phones. Almost every library in the Chicago area has access to Hoopla. Stream away, bookworms, atwww.hoopladigital.com https://www.hoopladigital.com/home. You can throw your next party at the library. OK, maybe not, but many libraries around Chicago are shifting from dusty, quiet study places to bustling community centers. Take the Wheaton Public Library, which is getting a face lift to make it a more welcoming group-work space. Dawn Kovacs, the library's deputy director, said they're trying to create a space where small business owners can Skype partners and hold meetings. She also wants students to have a place to work on group projects for school. The Orland Park Public Library features art displays every month and concerts in the lobby. It has started a Pinterest-inspired craft time for kids and adults. The Niles Public Library picked up on the same DIY-theme; it now offers sewing machines for public use in its studios. You can still talk to a human. According to Danczak Lyons, the best resource libraries have is the same one they've always had: librarians. With each new technology and resource offered, libraries train staff to teach the public how to use them. They're trained to answer questions and cut through confusion. "Google will get you 1,000 answers," Danczak Lyons said. "We'll get you the right one." -- Arun http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4398-4658 http://www.researcherid.com/rid/B-9925-2009 -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.