13 Jun

Looking for Free Entertainment in Las Vegas? Local Library a Hidden Gem

Las Vegas Clark County Library DistrictAnyone who plans a trip to Las Vegas has pure entertainment on the brain. Whether it’s spinning the reels of the myriad slots on The Strip, anticipating the wonders of the fabulous Freemont Street Experience, or consuming enough alcohol to kill a small flock of sheep at one of Sin City’s after-hours night clubs, there’s not much you can’t do in Las Vegas. But I’d be willing to bet you never considered one of the area’s most prolific forms of free entertainment – the Library.

I know – cracking open a book may not sound like the ideal way to spend a weekend in Vegas. However, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, consisting of 25 libraries in all, lives up to the city’s reputation as being unlike any other in the world.

If you enjoy all of the many benefits of your local library, as I do, you’ll absolutely love the myriad perks you can take part in at the libraries in and around Sin City. Best of all, it’s absolutely free, even for tourists.

No Cost For Tourists

I’ve been to the libraries in major cities like New York and Los Angeles, and if your ID doesn’t name you a local resident, you’ll have to pay out of pocket to do anything. In fact, these libraries charge a $50 fee to check out books if you’re from out of town. I can go buy whatever books I want at Barnes & Noble for that kind of cash.

The Clark County Library District offers out of towners a free 3 month guest card, giving them access to all of the books, events and online services the facilities have to offer. Assuming there are no outstanding fines, fees or unreturned materials, a guest card can be renewed for free at any time.

Free Activities for All Ages

Las Vegas libraries are a perfect attraction for family visits. No matter how old, you can walk in and take a seat during one of the daily read-aloud sessions. Most of them start at 10:30 a.m., a few at 11:00 a.m., and are often hosted by local celebrities. If you ever wanted to have a famous person, like ‘Divas Las Vegas‘ headline drag queen Frank Marino, read you a story, this is the place to do it.

Maybe you’re a computer illiterate senior who was too embarrassed to ask the grandkids to teach you how to use Facebook? Again, Las Vegas libraries are the answer. While you’re spending your holiday at the Bellagio, you can stop in at any of the libraries in Las Vegas, West Las Vegas, Clark County, Mesquite or Summerlin for one of their free weekly computer sessions, where you can learn anything from how to use Microsoft Windows, to navigating Twitter, to generating spreadsheets in Excel.

With your newfound computer knowledge in tow, you can use the Library District’s multitude of computers and high-speed WiFi to access the world wide web. If the poker tables are full at the Venetian, or too intimidating at the Rio, you could even log onto WSOP.com and play online poker for real money.

So long as you’re a free local or guest member, you don’t even have to visit the library to take advantage of some of their opportunities, like learning a new language. Through lvccld.org, you can discover more than 100 different languages, with courses that cover everything from alphabet recognition to speaking and typing classes. And it’s all free online, 24/7.

Perhaps you want to take in a theatrical show without paying the usual Las Vegas prices, the branches in Clark County, Summerlin, West Charleston, West Las Vegas, Whitney and Windmill host free theatrical productions seven days a week in their performing arts centers.

Heard enough? Visit the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District for more information.