Library will be first in nation to offer downloadable films, concert videos

Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News

Published February 17, 2006 at midnight

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Next month, the Denver Public Library system will become the first in the nation to allow people to download movies and concert videos from home with a click of their computer mouse.

And it'll be free to anyone with a Denver library card and a speedy Internet connection.

"It makes it convenient, because you don't have to come to the library," Michelle Jeske, the library's manager of Web Information Services, said Thursday. "As long as you have a library card, you can have the library come to you."

The library already provides free downloads of audio books and eBooks. People also can listen to free online streaming of classical music, jazz, blues, country, blues - and pay the library vendor if they want to download a song.

In mid-March, members will be able to start downloading documentaries and IMAX movies, travel and concert films, do-it-yourself remodeling flicks and exercise videos.

"It will be very cool, because you could take it on your laptop on a business trip and have your yoga program right there in your hotel room," Jeske said.

Eventually, the library expects to also offer feature films. Like audio books, Jeske said, patrons will be able to keep a video download about a week before it automatically erases.

The library hopes to some day have computer kiosks where members without fast Internet service - or no service - can download films onto their portable video players.

The library Web site has become a film forum where people can read movie recommendations by the library staff, post their own film critiques or read ones by newspaper critics. You can even check local movie listings.

"This is the way that audio-visual material is moving," Jeske said.

To learn more, go online to ebooks.denverlibrary.org.

gathrighta@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5486

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