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Hello all! Clayton Strickland has contacted me several times about whether CTLS would want to create a consortium for downloadable video through Recorded Books. The software is called MyLibrarydv. Here's the list of over 450 programs that are available through MyLibrarydv: http://mldv.permissiontv.com/channels/louisville_ky/images/MLDVProgramList.p df The list includes some classic films, some travel programs, cooking programs, Antiques Roadshow and others - take a look at the list. Here's an article about it from CNN's Money section: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/RBI-0086-16709032.htm Now for my opinion. I have mixed feelings about it because: * The industry is not at the stage where they can offer blockbuster movies to patrons (which are the movies that would be ideal for downloadable video - patrons could access them all the time and this format eliminates the theft issue). * Video requires more bandwidth than audio, and many of our communities are grappling with bandwidth issues and reliable Internet connections. * You have to view it from the computer, unless you have a wire guru in your house like I do - my husband - who will hook the computer up to the television. It's still a pain. * There's just so much free video to watch out there, via cable and Internet. Have you seen the Japanese t.v. show where cats, unbeknownst to them, compete to see who can pull away the biggest fish?: http://www.ifilm.com/video/2748778. And who can forget the OK Go band dancing on treadmills? : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv5zWaTEVkI. Then there's a lego version of that video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjCL0_0Il7w. And did you miss the last couple episodes of Ugly Betty or Lost? Never fear - ABC has it ready for you at www.abc.com <http://www.abc.com/> . Don't forget that you can watch the entire first season of Heroes for free at www.nbc.com <http://www.nbc.com/> with limited commercials (if I have to watch that Orville Redenbacher commercial one more time.). * The Internet Archive is an ALA member and online research library that provides over 800 classic feature-length films for free: http://www.archive.org/details/feature_films Sure, the screen is small, but - say it loud, say it proud - it's free. For what it's worth, my friend Sheryl at Brooklyn Public Library coordinated their purchase of Over Drive audio and video, and she says the travel episodes download like hotcakes. So let me know what you think - if your community would benefit, and we can put together a consortium for it if there's enough interest. Thanks, Kam Kam McEvoy Electronic Resources Specialist Central Texas Library System, Inc. 1005 West 41st St., Suite 100 Austin, TX 78756 512-583-0704 x19 800-262-4431 x19 fax: 512-583-0709
