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Illinois Libraries Offer Free Videos at Online "Media Mall"

NEWS RELEASE
September 26, 2006

For further information contact:
Judy Hoffman, (847) 353-7137

Amy Dankowski, OverDrive/Digital Library Reserve, (216) 573-6886 ext. 209

The award-winning MyMediaMall (www.mymediamall.net) digital book collection is celebrating its first anniversary with the addition of downloadable videos that are free and available 24/7.  Patrons of participating Illinois libraries can check out and download the new videos, as well as popular digital audiobooks and e-books from the comfort of their own home. The videos and books can be enjoyed on a wide range of portable devices.

MyMediaMall is a cooperative project of 27 Illinois libraries working with the Wheeling-based North Suburban Library System to offer patrons throughout the Chicago suburbs and other locations in northern and central Illinois access to the latest digital materials.

“The only way to access this free, downloadable video collection is with your library card – the smartest card in your wallet,” said Sarah Long, director of the North Suburban Library System.  “The addition of video to MyMediaMall has been greatly anticipated, and we expect the new collection to fly off the digital shelves of our ‘library without walls.’”

The diverse collection of eVideos includes many popular programs for children, documentaries, the Globe Trekker adventure travel series, and even baseball instruction from Cal Ripkin, Jr.

Patrons can download videos and digital books to their Windows-based PC, notebook, and a wide variety of portable media players. Audiobooks can also be burned to CD.

Automatic returns at the end of the loan period eliminate any possibility of late fees for users. If a video or book is already checked out, users can put the item on hold and be notified by e-mail when it is available. During this first year, MyMediaMall users checked out and downloaded over 21,000 items. The collection currently has 2,300 titles, and new videos, audiobooks, and e-books are added monthly.

MyMediaMall and the North Suburban Library System (www.nsls.info) were recognized this summer with a Digital Media Pioneer Award, presented at the 2006 Digipalooza conference.

MyMediaMall’s collection is licensed through OverDrive (www.overdrive.com), a leader in managing digitizing content utilizing digital rights management technology to publishers, retailers, and libraries.