If you’re looking for a creative date night idea – one that happens to be budget friendly as well – then look no further than the library date night!
As a child, many, many years ago now, I would visit the library on a regular basis.
The library was a hallowed place to me.
I loved its sense of order, its quiet, but most of all I loved the books.
As a mom, I would take my kids to the library regularly as well.
There was a cafe at the library entrance as we would often stop for a coffee / hot chocolate after we had checked out our haul. We would sip our drinks and speculate which book we were going to read first.
These days libraries can be very different spaces. Noisier for one!
The range of things you can borrow has also increased: some libraries lend out power tools, musical instruments, art, and even dogs (source).
You’d be hard pressed to find a library that didn’t have free wifi either.
Many libraries also have free entertainment: from author talks to bands to various other speakers.
However at their core they are still serving the same purpose: creating a shared space where people can access resources for free or low cost that can enrich their lives in many ways.
Given the huge range of possibilities within libraries, it’s no surprise that the library is a great place for a date.
Date nights are one way of keeping the excitement and novelty in your marriage – and if you always thought libraries were a little dull, I can assure you this library date night is anything but boring.
In addition, depending on your choices it can be a totally free date or inexpensive activity. It’s also a perfect rainy day date.
But what do you do in the library? I hear you ask.
A library scavenger hunt for adults.
Below are 10 tasks for your library scavenger hunt.
To add to the fun, there are two ways you can complete the library scavenger hunt.
Either make it a race, saving the conversations for when you have finished OR complete each task one at a time, having the discussion before you move on to the next activity.
If you do the latter you might want to save some of the activities for a second library date.
The bonus part of this library scavenger hunt is that some activities provide you with material for another date night should you wish.
Here we go!
Contents
Task 1: Turn back time
Everyone had a favorite book when they were a child, right?
(Mine was Anne of Green Gables).
Your first task is to go to the children’s section of the library.
Locate your favorite book and show it to your spouse.
Explain the following:
a) how old you were when you read the book
b) how you got the book
c) why it became your favorite
Now for Task 2!
Task 2: High school blues
As a former English teacher I’d hate to admit it, but not all students like the text they are set to study in high school.
Your second task in the library scavenger hunt is to find a book that you were forced to study in high school that you hated.
Tell your spouse the name of your teacher, share the plot outline, and explain why you hated the book so much.
Task 3: Ch-ch-ch changes
Ever read something that changed your life?
Your third task is to find a book that changed your life in some way.
Maybe it was a self help book where you learned something that had a measurable impact on who you were moving forward.
Maybe it was a story that influenced how you thought about human nature.
Maybe it was something super practical – such as growing your wealth – that got you to where you are today.
Find the book and explain the lesson that it taught you to your spouse.
Task 4: Good book hunting
They say that a book is always better than a movie.
But is that always the truth?
Find a book you read that was a) made into a movie and b) the movie was BETTER than the book.
Now just in case you have never experienced this phenomena, you can, as an alternative, go for the following:
- a book that was better than the movie
- a book that was made into a movie – but you never saw the movie
- a book that was made into a movie – but you never read the book
Task 5: Finger licking good
Head over to the recipe section.
Before you start this task, make sure you know what your spouse’s favorite food is.
Your task here is to find a recipe which either
- includes his favorite food (should this be a single item, such as cheese, tomatoes, apples), OR
- shows how to make his favorite food
Either get the book out of take a copy of the page so that you can make them for each other on your next date night.
Now should you cook each other’s favorite food all the time, you can add a variation to this challenge – find a recipe that includes a mutually agreed upon ingredient you both like.
Task 6: Sweet nothings
Now it’s time to get romantic.
Locate the poetry section.
Find a poem that sums up how you feel about your spouse.
Read it to them.
Task 7: Go on vacation
Go to the travel section.
Find a book on a place you’d love to visit one day but have never been to before.
Within the book, find an activity that you would like to do when you visit this place.
Share the activity and destination with your spouse.
Task 8: Date with destiny
If you’ve been doing these tasks together, the next task should be a race.
Be the first person to find a book with the word DATE in the title.
Agree where you’ll meet up before you go searching!
Task 9: Choose me
Now it’s time to get a book out for your spouse.
Select something that you think they would enjoy reading – maybe by their favorite author or in a genre they love.
You both need to commit to reading the book.
Task 10: Movie night
Almost done!
Finish off your library date night by going to the movie section.
Select a movie to watch together when you get home.
Note: if your library does not have a movie section, or you don’t have a DVD player, then get out a jigsaw puzzle instead.
To sum up
Having date night at the library is a creative, fun, and cheap or free (depending on your library charges) way to spend some quality time together.
This library scavenger hunt for adults will help you learn more about your spouse, will provide fun and excitement, and also give you some things to do when you get home!
It’s the perfect date idea for book lovers.
Which one of these library date ideas is your favorite?
Enjoyed this date idea and want more? Try these date ideas for couples.