Check Out the Deals at Public Libraries

When it comes to good deals, it doesn’t get any better than the Los Angeles County Library system. With 84 community libraries and three bookmobiles, the system maintains 7 million items, including books, videos and cassette tapes available from each location through a daily delivery system.

But besides books and tapes, there are plenty of other lesser-known services available, including:

* Literacy programs at 22 sites that provide one-on-one literacy tutoring, special programs for children and parents, and preschool story hours.

* Free mini-classes at local health clinics to help new mothers and babies get off to a good start.

* A California job search guide available online at no cost at https://jobsmart.org.

* Books by Mail for the homebound, convalescent home residents and rural dwellers. Call (661) 948-2410 for a catalog.

* CHIPS, a consumer health service that provides medical information upon request.

* Audio Express, which offers first-run videos, books, magazines, CDs and full-length readings of bestsellers, classics, general fiction, language instruction and nonfiction on audiocassettes.

A $10 fee covers postage and maintenance of the audio books. Call (800) 253-0591 for a catalog.

Except for Audio Express, the library services are free.

But there are others with reduced fees, such as research services from FYI that include business profiles ($9), Standard & Poor’s Research Reports ($15), business lists ($20 to $35) and demographics ($3 and up). Call (800) 582-1093.

Now all you have to do is get your free library card.

Los Angeles County Public Library, various locations and hours. For more information, call (562) 940-8415 or visit https://www.colapublib.org.

Weekend Supersale: You will have to get up early for the best pickings Saturday at the annual Shoe Frenzy fund-raiser for the Women’s Clinic & Family Counseling Center.

Many major manufacturers, such as Ferragamo, Bruno Magli, Kenneth Cole and Cole Haan, have donated women’s footwear that will be selling for $5 to $50. Sizes run from 5 through 11. Admission and parking are free.

Shoe Frenzy fund-raiser sale, Saturday, 8:30 a.m-1 p.m., National Guard Armory, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City. (310) 203 8336.

For more bargains, visit https://www.bargainsla.com.