Last year, a roughly a third of Americans took a road trip for their vacation. Of these, I peril to imagine how few had the foresight to stop by their public libraries on the way out of town. What a loss! Adventurous souls can find scores of resources and treats for their upcoming journeys. Find out how the Daniel Boone Regional Library can improve a car trip.
Streaming Audio Books
With a library card, readers can access thousands of books through apps like Libby and Hoopla. Personally, I love to use a road trip for an audio book marathon. When else do I have eight hours of free time? In particular, heart pounding mysteries and thrillers cures any fatigue that sets in on a long stretch of highway. I recommend “Sorrowland” by Rivers Solomon or “Magic for Liars” by Sarah Gailey for some audiobook thrills.
Freegal
A library card also links you to Freegal, a free music streaming service from Sony. While Freegal has lots of songs and albums, it also features pre-made playlists on a variety of themes. Playlists for long car rides like Road Trip, which features 80’s and 90’s hits, practically beg for mobile sing-alongs. For a more contemplative sojourn, try An Afternoon Drive, for an eclectic compilation of folk, alternative and instrumental songs.
Analog Resources
There are a lot of reasons to go phone-free on a road trip. It’s a rare chance to disconnect from work and family to get in touch with one’s thoughts. That, or your car does not have bluetooth or an aux cord jack. Either way, you can borrow both audio books and music on CD at the library.
Audiobooks on CD are on the second floor, behind the computers. To fill hundreds of miles with laughter, try some of the Library’s humor books like “Happy-Go-Lucky” by David Sedaris or NPR’s “Laughter Therapy”. Laughter Therapy is only four hours, perfect for a shorter trip.
Downstairs, the library has a wide selection of music CDs. If you need recommendations for new music, check out the display by the help desk to catch some recent releases and staff favorites.
Reference Material
Finally, and maybe most obviously, the library is a great place to plan your trip. We have books on specific roads and cities. “Accessible Vacations” by Simon Hayhoe lays out various American cities by how well they accommodate for disabled visitors. If you are looking for a trip to connect with the great outdoors, “National Geographic Atlas of Wild America” might inspire a trip to see some of these wonders. Another great, general trip guide would be “1,000 Places to See in the United States & Canada Before You Die” by Patricia Schultz
Wherever you are going, bring a little bit of the library with you. Just remember to send us a post card!
