Free and Cheap

Any Pennsylvania resident can get a free library card at Schlow Centre Region Library — and that card unlocks free access to ebooks, audiobooks, streaming films, and digital magazines that most people pay subscriptions to get.

Why nobody tells you about it: People think of a library card as borrowing physical books. The digital layer is the hidden value: Hoopla gives you free streaming movies, TV shows, music, and comics with no wait lists. Kanopy gives you free access to thousands of films including the full Criterion Collection and extensive documentary libraries. Both are available from your phone or laptop the moment your card is active. In a college town surrounded by Penn State's libraries, many newcomers skip the public library entirely and miss all of this. You can also check out a ukelele!

The Detail:

• Where: Schlow Centre Region Library, 211 S Allen St, State College, PA 16801 — walk-in card registration is free for Centre County residents

• Hoopla: Free streaming of movies, TV, music, audiobooks, and comics — no wait lists; access at hoopladigital.com with your library card

• Kanopy: Free film streaming including the Criterion Collection — access at kanopy.com with your library card

• Also in Centre County: Branch libraries in Bellefonte, Centre Hall, and Philipsburg offer the same card benefits

• Learn more: schlowlibrary.org 

#Free, #Newcomer, #DoItThisWeek

The American Association of University Women's annual used book sale in State College is enormous, cheap, and meticulously organized — and most people who have never been have no idea what they are walking into.

Why nobody tells you about it: Used book sales in small towns are usually underwhelming. The AAUW State College branch book sale is the exception — it runs for several days, fills a large space with tens of thousands of donated books organized by genre, and prices most items at $1 to $3. Longtime residents quietly mark it on their calendar every year. It is as much a social event for book people as it is a sale, and Lion Surplus at Penn State offers a similar treasure-hunt experience for university surplus equipment and supplies.

The Detail:

• AAUW Book Sale: Held annually — check aauwstatecollege.org for the current year's dates and location (typically spring)

• Learn more: aauwstatecollege.org

#Free, #PSU, #Community

Penn State's surplus store sells used university furniture, electronics, lab equipment, office supplies, and miscellaneous campus castoffs at dramatically reduced prices — and anyone can walk in and shop.

Why nobody tells you about it: The name sounds institutional, which makes people assume it is for departments buying back university property. It is not. Lion Surplus is open to the general public, and the inventory is genuinely unpredictable in the best way — one week it might be office chairs and filing cabinets, the next it is scientific instruments, computers, or furniture from a renovated building. People who go regularly treat it like a treasure hunt. Most newcomers never hear about it at all.

The Detail:

• Where: Lion Surplus, 1 Services Road, University Park — near the Blue Band Building on campus

• Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

• What to expect: University office furniture, computers and electronics, lab equipment, vehicles, clothing, and miscellaneous campus items — condition and selection change constantly

• Tip: Check the online inventory listings at surplus.psu.edu  before visiting — items are listed in advance and popular lots go quickly

• Learn more: surplus.psu.edu

#PSU, #DoItThisWeek

The Bellefonte Art Museum offers free admission and rotating exhibitions in a historic downtown building — and it is 15 minutes from State College, which means most Centre County residents have never been.

Why nobody tells you about it: Bellefonte gets overlooked as a destination because State College sits between residents and everywhere else. But the art museum is genuinely worth the drive — it operates in a well-preserved historic space, supports regional artists, and changes its exhibitions regularly enough that repeat visits make sense. Free admission means the only barrier is knowing it exists.

The Detail:

• Where: Bellefonte Art Museum, 133 N Allegheny St, Bellefonte, PA 16823 — in the heart of historic downtown Bellefonte

• Hours: Check bellefonteartmuseum.org for current exhibition schedule and open hours before visiting

• While you're there: Bellefonte's Victorian downtown is worth walking — the Spring Creek and surrounding historic district make it a full half-day trip

• Learn more: bellefonteartmuseum.org

#Free, #Arts

Centre County has multiple native plant sales throughout the spring and summer, including a Clearwater Conservancy giveaway that gives plants to anyone who shows up.

Why nobody tells you about it: Native plant sales here are organized through conservancies, university programs, and student farms — not commercial nurseries — so they do not advertise the way a garden center would. If you want to plant natives and pay almost nothing, the Clearwater Conservancy's free plant giveaway and the Penn State student farm sale are the two best-kept horticultural secrets in the county.

The Detail:

• Clearwater Conservancy plant giveaway: Free native plants at Clearwater events — check clearwaterconservancy.org for schedule; typically four plants per household per visit

• Centre Plantable: Native plant sale run through local conservation networks — search "Centre Plantable" for the current schedule

• Penn State Student Farm sale: Seasonal plant and produce sales on campus — check studentfarm.psu.edu for dates

• Centre Furnace Mansion: Also hosts plant sales in spring — centrefurnacemansion.org

• Learn more: clearwaterconservancy.org

#Free, #Outdoors, #PSU

Centre County has a surprisingly strong second-hand ecosystem — thrift stores, donation resale shops, the AAUW book sale, and the Benner Pike corridor where most of it is concentrated.

Why nobody tells you about it: The second-hand ecosystem here is scattered across multiple venues that newcomers do not naturally connect. Benner Pike has a strip of second-hand shops most people drive past without stopping. Bellefonte has additional options. And for donating, the Interfaith Mission ReStore and State College Women's Club Soups + Skeins sale are places your things will actually be used.

The Detail:

• Benner Pike: Massive donation-based secondhand warehouses including Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul, and the furniture-focused CentrePeace outlet. 

• Bellefonte shops: Destinations like The Great Mish Mosh and Plaza Bellefonte pack historic buildings with multi-vendor booths full of vintage clothing, rare vinyl, retro games, and mid-century estate pieces. Complementing these vast antique treasure hunts are community-focused options like the Faith Centre for incredible budget-friendly finds, and curated boutiques like La Vida Local inside Belle Mercantile, which offers a hand-selected mix of sustainable and bohemian fashion. On the outskirts of Bellefonte, the Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a nonprofit home improvement center and donation warehouse that sells gently used furniture, building supplies, and large appliances.

• Donating: Interfaith Mission accepts furniture and household goods; State College Women's Club Soups + Skeins collects yarn and handcraft supplies

• Learn more: Search "thrift stores State College PA" on Google Maps for current hours and locations

#Free, #Newcomer