parkland regional Library launches video service

By Thom Barker
Staff Writer

The Parkland Regional Library (PRL) has launched its new online video/audio service.

Now, library cardholders can borrow from thousands of film, music, audio book and television titles from anywhere at any time using a website called Hoopla.

Library users can create a profile on the site simply by entering their library card number and password for access to an extensive catalogue of new and old movies and more.

Maintaining relevance in the Internet age is a challenge for many libraries, one that Parkland is facing head on by licensing electronic resources. Parkland director Helen McCutcheon has been concentrating on this since she has been in the job.

In addition to Hoopla, the library currently offers Library2Go and Freading, where users can download audio books and e-books; Zinio, a magazine subscription service; and Freegal, a music subscription service.

McCutcheon said the music service has been extremely popular.

“I really got it to bring the young adults into the library, but what I’ve found is everybody is using it and it’s unbelievable, in the rural areas, all over the region,” she said, adding she expects the movie service to be similarly popular.