Yes, Virginia, there is a free lunch

Yes, Virginia, there is a free lunch

Peter Flierl

While writing my daily gratitude journal upon awaking this morning, often a rather bizarre stream of consciousness after two months, libraries were one of my thirty-two items today. I love my two home libraries, New Lebanon Library up here in the Berkshires and Greenwich Library. In addition to providing access to any book on the planet, each provides a wide range of services such as research resources, business references, free wifi, librarians themselves.

I cannot imagine paying for access to the Foundation Center online directory individually when it is at my fingertips on every computer at Greenwich Library. Free access to extraordinarily valuable information on more than 100,000 foundations nationwide. What required a trip to Manhattan and days of scouring a multitude of books can now be done in seconds. Then the real work begin, identifying the right targets for your charitable organization. The important next step is finding connections among your staff and volunteers. Your odds are one in twenty for a cold application, while one in three when warm.

Back to the free lunch. Yesterday, the wonderful reading room at New Lebanon Library was my office for several hours. Its wifi access provided the opportunity to catch up with clients, look for writing and speaking engagements, and do a bit of volunteer service work for Friends of Bill in Connecticut. While I am in my summer home office next to a lake, the library opens my working possibilities. Greenwich Library offers the same opportunity, including tables with power plugs built in for computers and monitors. A fully functional office, including copying and printing.

David Smith, a talented website designer and host, literally used Darien Library as his office. You could see Dave at his work space, not down in the computer room, but at a table in an upstairs work space. Need to hold a business meeting with a client, Dave would often meet you in Darien Library. He provided the role model. Rather than renting at $200 to $300 per square foot for a “real” office, or a space at a multi-tenant shared office, think Regus, you have a fully functional and easily accessible office for free.

If you haven’t done so, we would suggest a donation to your local library, particularly if you are a sole proprietor and freelancer. And enjoy your free office.

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Peter Flierl is a freelance writer and speaker, national award winning author, and social media maven. His firm, Broccoli Soup, is located in Greenwich, CT