Library Hack: Resources for New Year’s resolutions

Posted on December 29, 2015 at 6:00 am

By Kelsey Hudson

So we’re going to start this post off like most of my storytimes begin—with some group sharing. Raise your hand if you’ve ever set a New Year’s resolution. Keep it raised if you’ve ever broken it. And finally, raise it even higher if you break them more often than you complete them. My hand is still raised high. How about yours?

Unfortunately, while the goals seem fantastic at the beginning of the year, it won’t be too long before a whole bunch of us break our resolutions. So although the library doesn’t have personal coaches available to motivate you to complete your goals, there are a number of library resources that may lend a helping hand towards finally conquering those New Year’s resolutions.

Out of curiosity, I took a look through our Statista digital resource to try and find the most common New Year’s resolutions. Not surprisingly, according to a 2014 poll, those of us who set resolutions for the New Year tend to set them around improving our lives.

Here are some ways you can use libraries resources to achieve your 2016 resolutions:

Live healthier

Nearly half of the people polled about their New Year’s resolutions aimed to live a bit healthier in the New Year, whether by losing a little weight, eating better, or exercising more. Checking out some new cookbooks, can be a great way to try some new recipes and possibly even lose a little weight. If you are seeking recipes for a specific diet, we can find you a cookbook with everything from low-fat and diabetic recipes to allergen-free and vegetarian meal plans.

And if a more guided approach is what you need, Gale Courses offers a number of online, 6-week courses on Health and Wellness topics. New classes start on January 13 and are available on a wide variety of topics such as losing weight, natural healing and health, quick low-fat meals, and even growing your own edible garden.

Spend less, save more

It may go without saying that saving money is a good thing, such a good thing that many people make it a goal for their New Year’s Resolutions. For those wanting to keep a little more money in their pockets, make sure to take a look at the services offered in our Digital Library. Save money on books, movies, television shows, and music by using hoopla and OverDrive to checkout and enjoy items on your computer, tablets, and smartphones.

Library members also have access to the Consumer Reports database of reviews. Take a look through their thousands of reviews for the latest information, product specifications, and buying guides. You can even compare multiple product models to determine if the dishwasher you’re looking into will really save you money or end up costing you more in the long run.

Get a better job

You never know when a new career opportunity will strike, but when it does, you can make sure that you’re ready. If you are feeling the need to brush up on your skills the Microsoft IT Academy provides immediate access to Microsoft’s online eLearning program, while our new subscription to LinkedIn Learning provides training on everything from business-specific topics to creative endeavors like 3D printing.

Once your skills are ready to go, you’re welcome to come into one of our 10 libraries to work on your resume with WinWay resume software. Online job coaches are also available daily through JobNow to help you revise your resume, prepare for interviews, and put together the perfect cover letter.

Enjoy life and family

Personally, I always feel like I could benefit from taking a bit more time for personal interests and spending time with my family. If you’re looking for something to do with the family, make sure to take a look at our Event Calendar. We’ve got a wide range of programs each week, from Monday Fundays (at North Spokane) and Too Fun Tuesdays (at Spokane Valley) for all ages to special events like our upcoming Exploring Human Origins exhibits and programs. You can even view community events to see some of the amazing things going on throughout Spokane County for the upcoming month.

While these are just a few of the top resolutions in recent years, we would love to help you find something to help you succeed with just about any goal you’ve set for 2016. If you don’t see what you’re looking for here, feel free to set up a Book a Librarian appointment. You’ll be guaranteed some face-to-face time with a staff member who’ll be happy to help you find all the info you need to start an indoor herb garden or find a few alternatives to the hot glue gun for crafting.

Tags: adults, digital library, digital resources, Gale, gale courses, health, hobbies, holidays, library hacks, services