I am constantly looking for ways to reduce my monthly bills and save money.

One item I splurge on is a subscription to my local newspaper. I love to read the newspaper so I have been paying about $300.00 a year for this subscription.

I have been looking for a way to read the paper for free. My local newspaper offers a digital subscription at a lower cost than home delivery, but it is still a monthly bill.

While researching ways to read and print the paper for free. I contacted my local library. I already use the library to borrow digital content through Hoopla, Kanopy and Libby. And I use the many other resources the library has to offer.

The library told me they also use a site called Newsbank and that I can log in through the library and read the paper online for free. I was delighted to hear this.

I found that not only does Newsbank offer my local newspaper but depending on the library card used when logging in they offer a lot of other information as well.

Each library is different on what content they receive from Newsbank. I have 5-6 library cards from different libraries. I logged in with each card and was able to access different information depending on the card I used. Much of it was the same but some libraries offered access to more content than others.

It is very easy to obtain a library card at most public libraries.

Almost every library has an option to apply for a library card online, without the need to visit the branch in person. Some of the cards allow you to borrow only digital content and some give you full access to the library both digitally and in person.

I wanted several cards because each library offers different content. For example, I listen to a lot of audiobooks and my local library does not always have the audiobooks I want to borrow, so having access to several libraries gives me a wider range of books to choose from. If I cannot find the book I want at one library I can almost always find it at another.

To apply for a library card, go to the libraries website and look for a link to apply for a card. If you don’t see a link, email or call the library and ask them how you can obtain a card. I was able to get all of my cards except one by signing up online or by emailing the library. The one library that did not have an online or email option sent me an application in the mail. I filled it out and sent it back and they mailed me a library card.

Newsbank offers not only newspapers but a huge database of other information as well.

This is a quote from Newsbank’s “about page” on what they offer.

“NewsBank, inc. has been a premier information provider for more than 45 years. Our comprehensive resources meet the diverse research needs of public libraries, colleges and universities, schools, military and government libraries, and professionals around the world.

NewsBank consolidates current and archived information from thousands of newspaper titles, as well as newswires, web editions, blogs, videos, broadcast transcripts, business journals, periodicals, government documents and other publications. Using these online resources, researchers in libraries around the world can easily explore tens of millions of current and archived news articles and obituaries in order to pinpoint information from primary sources at the local, state, regional, national and international levels. NewsBank also offers online educational resources covering all academic curricula. Aligned with state standards and targeting all subject areas, NewsBank’s school-focused solutions include primary sources and inquiry-based projects that support learning, enhance research and help develop critical thinking skills.

NewsBank’s Readex division offers authoritative digital editions of historical collections, including the acclaimed Archive of Americana, for exploring centuries of history, literature, culture and daily life.

Beyond the library, professionals of all kinds can use NewsBank resources to access useful information of value to their organizations.

NewsBank’s content is derived via partnerships with leading news providers worldwide. These publishers are offered extensive, turnkey media services – including hosting, distribution and e-commerce – that enable them to leverage their current and archived content online to generate additional revenue in established markets while driving more traffic and extending their brand”

So, as you can see the content they offer covers a wide range of information. A great research tool for sure.

Newsbank’s information comes from trusted sources, so you know the information they provide is credible. They also offer content that is not readily available elsewhere.

Once I found that I could access not only my local newspaper through Newsbank but many others as well I called and cancelled my newspaper subscription. I do some of the reading online, but I still enjoy sitting down and reading printed parts of the paper, so I print those pages out. I print in grayscale and print on both sides of the paper to save on ink and paper costs. I am still able to read everything I was before plus more.

I am saving $300.00 a year using this free resource.