Video on Demand From the Public Library

ye oulde library lover writes "In light of the recent story about Wal-Mart and movies on demand, readers should know there is a free service available from some public libraries that lets you download movies and tv shows. The service is just beginning, so selection is pretty mediocre, but the sponsors, Recorded Books and PermissionTV, make some big promises. If your library ponies up the dough for the top service, you will be able to download movies on the same day as their dvd release. All you need is a library card. You can see one of the early adopters — Half Hollow Hills Community Library in the library's blog. Look for MyLibraryDV."

HUntington Library in NY here

[majortom1981]

I am a network technician at the Huntington Public library in NY next school district over from Half Hollow. We are looking into this service too. we are doing testing. Its not bad but you have to install a client. There are a couple of services that libraries can use.

Response to castr troy

[majortom1981]

Here on long Island (where half hollow hills is) we have whats called "The Suffolk Cooperative Library System" It basically combines all the libraries in suffolk county into one semi unit. Our catalogs can be accessed by anybody in the system and books and dvds can be shipped between libraries. We even do some services as one unit. If it becomes a good service the whole system could offer it. I do not know how the rest of the country works though.

Re:Doesn't this exist already?

[majortom1981]

Um this service only has that. The Library i work for gets the latest dvds in before there street date. Any major dvd movie that comes out we order for the patrons. Stop trolling and actually visit the library (Wich you fund with your taxes) you will be suprised.

Re:Why does one need "library card"?

[rabidus6]

We just got this at the library I work at. We pay for a certain amount of downloads per month, if it exceeds this we have to pay more. So we only allow residents of the city to use it since they are the ones paying the taxes.

Re:Does it run Linux?

[JazzLad]

"Windows Media Player 9 or above with the most recent DRM security update. If Windows Media Player 9 is not installed you will be promped to do so." [permissiontv.com]