by Meredith Bratland
Public libraries, including Sylvan Lake’s, have launched two new digital services.
Considering the popularity of online video streaming and access to entertainment through mobile devices, Parkland Regional Library predicts high use across the region. All a person needs is a library card to enjoy thousands of free movies, TV shows, music, and audiobooks.
Hoopla is a digital streaming service for film, music, and audiobooks that has been likened to Netflix for libraries. Any title can be borrowed for instant streaming or temporary downloading to their tablets, smartphones, computers, or Apple TV. There are thousands of titles to explore: full music albums, Hollywood and international film, documentaries, fitness TV series, British television, and diverse audiobooks.
Hoopla is provided in partnership with the Government of Alberta and will be available in roughly 300 libraries across the province.
“At Parkland, we seek out innovative services for recreation, learning, and exploration,” said Ron Sheppard, Director of Parkland Regional Library. “By partnering with Hoopla, over 200,000 Central Albertans now have access to thousands of digital materials. There is no waiting period for popular titles and hoopla’s automatic return means no late fees.”
OneClickdigital is an easy-to-use digital audiobook service that enables patrons to download directly to their devices. OneClickdigital works on iOS and Android devices as well as mp3 players. It’s great for those who love to listen or go on road trips. This service expands options for those who struggle with traditional print.
Other popular digital services include Library PressDisplay and Zinio. PressDisplay enables Albertans to access digital copies of newspapers from around the globe. Readers can enjoy instant access to 2,000 newspapers from 100 countries in 60 languages. This service is especially valuable for new Albertans and travellers.
Zinio provides digital copies of popular magazines that can be accessed directly on most devices. It features over 100 titles, which Parkland patrons can enjoy with unlimited and instant access. The magazines available cover a wide variety of topics such as fashion, business, cuisine, lifestyle, crafts, woodwork, science, and technology.
Parkland Regional Library is a co-operative network of 50 public and 35 school libraries serving 204,844 residents in Central Alberta. Headquartered in Lacombe, Parkland Regional Library supports its members by sharing material, resources, and expertise. For more information, please visit www.prl.ab.ca.