“My favorite way to use my Oak Park Library card is using the streaming services … from the comforts of my couch!”
—Oak Park cardholder, September 2019
More content being streamed & downloaded
More and more Oak Parkers are using the library’s digital collections to stream and download books, movies, music, TV shows, and more. In fact, among active cardholders in 2019, nearly one-third used digital library resources exclusively.
From 2018 to 2019, the number of library materials downloaded or streamed increased by 16.3 percent. And in January 2020 alone, digital collection use was 49 percent higher than it was in January 2019.
“It is really exciting to see Oak Parkers loving their digital library,” says Manager of Materials Services Barbara Fitzgerald. “We are happy that with growing digital content we are able to extend the walls of the library buildings and provide more options for accessing library resources from anywhere.”
‘We’ve been responsive to that interest’
“This increased use is strong evidence that our cardholders are interested in more digital content,” says Collection Management Librarian Eric Pasteur. “And we’ve been responsive to that interest by offering multiple services to facilitate our community’s growing digital library use.”
One way we improved access to digital content in 2019 was by dedicating more resources to Media on Demand, the library’s largest and most popular collection of ebooks and audiobooks. In 2018, this service (and its Libby app) saw 1,537 new Oak Park users. And in 2019, an additional 1,670 Oak Park cardholders started using it.
We also reduced overall wait times on popular titles in 2019, while continuing to offer a significant back catalog of diverse titles. And we added new services that offer cardholders previously unavailable global newspapers and magazines.
Read on for three great ways to go digital with your library!
#1: Quality videos to stream on the spot
With Kanopy, you can enjoy award-winning features, enduring classics, educational and insightful documentaries, and more, including films from The Criterion Collection. Between March 2018 and March 2019, Oak Park cardholders increased their use of Kanopy by 99 percent!
- Check out 10 items per month—simultaneous access, no waiting.
- Available on iOS and Android, and in browser on laptop/desktop.
- Stream via Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku.
- Unlimited checkouts on Kanopy Kids content: films and TV series that help kids develop empathy, mindfulness, and self-esteem, with Common Sense Media ratings.
#2: Instant audiobooks, music, movies & more
With Hoopla, choose from thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, comics, movies, TV show episodes, and music albums.
- Check out 10 items per month—simultaneous access, no waiting.
- Available on iOS, Android, Kindle Fire HD/HDX, and in browser on laptop/desktop.
- Stream via Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, and Alexa-enabled devices.
- Temporarily download content on mobile devices for offline use.
#3: Magazines & newspapers from around the world
With three new digital resources for magazines and newspapers, you can access popular publications like The New Yorker and The New York Times, and so much more.
- Access 7,000 newspapers and magazines from across the globe with PressReader.
- Read 56 current subscriptions to popular magazines with Flipster.
- Find breaking news, multimedia, reviews and opinion from The New York Times.
Want one-on-one help?
Getting started using these new resources during one-on-one sessions with Oak Park library staff.
- Stop in for Tech Drop-in Time: Sessions are held most Wednesdays, 11 am-1 pm, in the Main Library Computer Classroom. See the calendar »
- Set a Learning Lab appointment. Complete an easy online form, and we will contact you to confirm your specific date and time. Request an appointment »
