Library helps put the binge in your watching

What do Movie Gallery, Blockbuster, and West Coast Video have in common?

Each of these companies were once in the DVD rental business. When the entertainment industry shifted due to consumer preferences, they became obsolete. Why weren’t they nimble enough to pivot when new technology changed the entertainment landscape? It was because they were in the DVD industry; not the entertainment industry. These giants fell for thinking too small.

Libraries are charged with providing access to information and entertainment, among other things. They are not in the book industry, or the DVD industry, or the lending industry (if that were a thing). When the digital age began to emerge, it became clear that the way people consume information and entertainment was changing. Libraries that dug their heels in the sand, choosing not to adapt, closed. Fortunately, most libraries began offering digital versions of physical materials long ago.

Even in this digital age, people still love their physical materials. Out of necessity, many who have been reluctant to go digital are now learning to love our awesome selection of eBooks and audiobooks from The Digital Library at ebonnerlibrary.org. But what about all of you who rely on The Library for DVDs? Our local patrons borrow as many DVDs as books on any given month — until this month, that is.

I think about our patrons who, due to a job loss, a medical emergency, or other hardship have had to discontinue their streaming service. Cutting entertainment out of the budget when times are already difficult is no small sacrifice.

If you are looking for a way to stream movies and TV shows without paying for monthly subscriptions, look no further than your library. From our website, go to The Digital Library and find Hoopla. There you can browse bingeable TV shows for everyone in the family; from “Butterbean’s Café” to “Beavis and Butthead” (am I allowed to say that here?) to “The Great British Baking Show.” You’ll also discover some great classic movies as well as recent releases. Borrows are available for three days and then they check themselves back in — no late fees! You can stream shows directly to your device or to your television with Roku or Apple TV. Check out the Hoopla tutorial from Niche Academy in The Digital Library. You can also access Niche Academy from the home page by clicking the green “Tutorials” tab on the right side of the page. There is a handy FAQ that explains how to use it on your TV.

No internet? No problem. You can download shows to your device from a Wi-Fi hotspot, like The Library parking lot. And, as always, you can contact us if you have any questions. Call 208-263-6930 extension 1209 and leave a message. We are checking messages and responding to calls daily (except Sundays). You can also email us at infodesk@ebonnerlibrary.org or message us on Facebook.

Marcy Timblin is in charge of public relations, marketing and community development for the East Bonner County Library District. She can be reached at 208-263-6930, ext. 1204.