I love a good movie. Dramas, comedies, action movies -- I find them all appealing. There’s not much that I won’t watch.
What I don’t like about movies, however, is the cost. Don’t get me wrong, I love to see movies in the theater. I love the big screen, the popcorn, the experience. But I have to be REALLY interested in a movie to see it in the theaters. I like to save money, and it’s always less expensive to wait and see movies on DVD or online. Even before I started working at the library, I would visit the library to check out movies or to find DVDs for TV shows I’d been meaning to watch. At the library you can check out DVDs for free.
At this time of the year when we’re all spending money on Christmas gifts or donating to our favorite charities, it’s great to find out that you can get something for free. That’s why I’m excited to talk about Hoopla, a streaming movie service now offered by the library. Hoopla was made for people like me. It’s easy to access, has lots of great titles, and, the best part, it’s FREE! That’s right, it’s FREE. All you need is a library card and PIN to access it. You can check out titles to watch online or to temporarily download to your mobile device.
Another great thing about Hoopla is that it’s available 24/7. So if you’re at home this holiday season when the library is closed, wishing that you had checked out a movie, you still can. Just visit the library’s website and click on the Hoopla icon in the center of the page to get started. And Hoopla has more than movies. You can find TV series, exercise videos, music and audiobooks. You also don’t have to worry about returning the items you check out. They will return automatically after 72 hours.
So if you’re looking for some movies, music or audiobooks this holiday season, visit the library’s website at sweetwaterlibraries.com, click on the Hoopla icon and start enjoying them for free.
eBooks
The library’s Overdrive eBook service really saved the day for me a few weekends ago. On a recent Saturday night I finished the book I was reading and realized I hadn’t checked out another one to get me through the weekend. I read every night before I go to bed, so not having another book seemed like a crisis. You’d think that since I work at the library I wouldn’t forget to check out books, but I forgot. Thankfully, the library has thousands of eBooks available that can be checked out 24/7. I clicked on the Overdrive app on my smartphone and picked out a new book. Crisis averted.
EBooks don’t have to be just for a crisis, however. They are perfect for anytime reading. You can check out eBooks anytime, anywhere. So if you can’t make a trip to the library, it’s OK, you can still find a book to read. You also don’t have to worry about returning them – they automatically go back when they’re due. So, if you’re sitting in an airport this holiday season and realize you forgot to pack a book, you don’t have to go and buy an expensive book from the airport gift shop. You can just check one out on your device. eBooks are especially great for traveling because they don’t weigh down your bags.
So as you make plans this holiday season, remember that the libraries offer many digital services that you can access for free anytime – even when the library buildings are closed.
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