Why go to Barnes and Noble to buy that new John Grisham novel when you can take it out of the library for free?

Why spend $40 on movie tickets (and another $20 on popcorn and soda), when you can get a classic film at the library for free?

More importantly, why sit around in your pajamas lamenting the fact that you got laid off when you could be down at the library taking a computer course or sending out a resume for free?

Well, millions of Americans are apparently doing all of the above.

“We always see an increase in library usage when the economy or the job market takes a hit. It’s fact of library life,” said Sandra Fernandez, manager of public relations for the Houston Public Library.

All of the usage figures are up in Houston, from circulation (up 7% in fiscal year 2009) to the number of visitors systemwide (up 5%).

Houston’s library staff has conducted research showing that the average visitor checks out 2.8 items with an estimated retail value of at least $60. That’s $60 that can go toward groceries or gas or the mortgage.

It’s the same story in New York, said Herb Scher, a spokesman for the New York Public Library.

Circulation at New York’s libraries has risen to 19.5 million items from 16 million a year ago, he said, and visits to New York’s libraries are up by 13%, or 2 million people.

In fact, it’s the same story all across America.

“We’re definitely seeing an increase,” said Jennifer Petersen with the American Library Association.

While the traditional library services remain in demand -- services such as recreational reading and research materials -- the real growth has been in newer services, primarily those related to computers.

Petersen said many people are saving money by canceling their home Internet services and coming to the library, where they can access the Internet for free. And many of those people are using the Internet to look for jobs, she said.

One recent study showed that nearly half of all job applications are now taken over the Internet.

Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to use the Internet, let alone how to send a resume over it. That’s where the library steps in.

“People are coming in and asking for help on job searches and attaching resumes to e-mails -- technical things. A lot of our librarians spend a good portion of their day helping people with activities that people who spend a good portion of their day on the computer take for granted. For many people, attaching a resume on an email is a new activity,” said Houston’s Fernandez.

The Houston Public Library offers an array of computer classes to help people find work or further their careers. “We are pleased to offer those services. It’s what we’re here for,” said Fernandez.

The ALA’s Peterson said many others are using the library as a free resource to help with their personal finances.

Libraries now offer a variety of workshops and seminars covering how to invest in the stock market, plan for retirement, establish a household budget, understand foreclosure, start a small business, and prepare taxes, among other financial topics.

To assist in that effort, the ALA and the Financial Industry Regulation Authority’s [FINRA] Foundation have established a grant program called “Smart Investing @ your library.”

Under that program, Finra has provided grants to libraries so they can establish programs that help people gain access to and better understand information that will help them make better financial decisions.