After working 40 hours a week and juggling the responsibilities of family, friends and finances, going back to school is the last thing on most people’s minds. However, the importance of lifelong learning should not be underestimated—recent studies have shown that keeping the mind sharp is an integral part of staving off mental problems down the road, including Alzheimer’s disease.

In today’s world, a high school or college diploma is often enough to land a well-paying job, and few people are expected to continue their schooling into adulthood. But for those seeking the personal (and often professional) fulfillment that comes with learning, there are many options and resources available—and not all of them involve buying a backpack and trudging off to class.

The public library is a resource that has declined in popularity as fewer people find time to read, but libraries offer tons of information and many highly educated librarians to help you find what you’re seeking.

Whether you’re interested in educating yourself on the economy or learning more about modern political theory, your local library has the answers—and study rooms so you can read in peace.

Even if the library doesn’t have the book(s) you’re looking for, chances are they can order it from another library in the city, free of charge. And as more and more people fall victim to the recession, a completely free source of information like the library is a valuable necessity in today’s society.

Self-education can be fully realized with the help of a library, as the main character in the 1997 film Good Will Hunting so aptly described when challenging the intellect of a Harvard student: “You wasted $150,000 on an education you could’ve gotten for $1.50 in late charges at the local library.”

The internet  can often be the gateway for accessing information and exploring new fields, whether using Wikipedia.org for quickly finding facts, browsing blogs for news and analysis or reading expert opinions in online medical journals.

A wealth of information can be found on the internet, and though not all of it is credible, there are easy ways to tell if the information you’re finding is accurate. The key is to check the source to be sure it is a reputable one—or, if the website is new or little known, click around and see if there is an obvious bias, either toward or against the subject you’re reading about.

When finding information on the internet, try to locate a few different sources. If the information matches up on each site you find, then chances are what you’re reading is legitimate.

If you’re interested in going back to school but want to start by taking baby steps, download a few podcasts by well-known professors from prestigious universities on iTunes. The lectures are informative and will remind you what classes are like. Some professors also publish texts online for free, which is another resource that those considering a college career should consider.

Going back to school  is a choice that requires a great deal of commitment, but there are resources to help ease the transition. If you’re taking a class simply for enjoyment, there are a variety of short, interesting and affordable courses available at the College of Southern Nevada. You can choose a class that works with your schedule, or even take one online if you want to save gas money.

Some companies offer tuition reimbursement if you’re taking continuing education courses related to your field, which eases the financial burden of going back to school. There is also the option of taking student loans from the federal government, though you want to make sure you will be able to pay them off in a reasonable amount of time. Student loans have very low interest rates and are a form of “good” debt that can boost your credit rating.

Whether you want to continue your education for work-related reasons or simply for your own personal enjoyment, there are ways to find the information you need. Being an informed citizen is one of the most important aspects of community living, so take advantage of the available resources.



New York Times Non-Fiction Best Sellers List

1 . EAT, PRAY, LOVE  by Elizabeth Gilbert. A writer’s journey in search of self.

2. THREE CUPS OF TEA  by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. A former climber builds schools in villages in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

3. THE AUDACITY OF HOPE  by Barack Obama. The Illinois senator asks Americans to move beyond political divisions.

4. A LONG WAY GONE by Ishmael Beah. A former child soldier from Sierra Leone describes his drug-crazed killing spree and his return to humanity.

5. DREAMS FROM MY FATHER by Barack Obama. The senator on life as the son of a black African father and a white American mother.

6. SARAH by Kaylene Johnson. The career of Sarah Palin, the Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential nominee.

7. MIKE’S ELECTION GUIDE by Michael Moore. The filmmaker’s take on 2008.

8. I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL by Tucker Max. Life as a drunken womanizer. 
 
9. 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN by Don Piper with Cecil Murphey. A minister on the otherworldly experience he had after an accident.   

10. MARLEY & ME by John Grogan.  Lessons learned from a neurotic dog.

By Caitlin McGarry

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