The Audio Visual Department is Changing!

I wrote this piece, entitled Crystal Visions at TechSource a few weeks ago. Today, we get this news out of Colorado via LISNews:

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.

This model intrigues me. As more and more content comes to our libraries digitally, and iPods in Libraries slowly become commonplace, what does the next generation AV area look like?

From ALA TechSource:

This will be a slow change. Early adopters will pave the way, just as it took years for the VHS cassette to come and be on the way out. Collections will remain, for those folks who keep their players, probably as long as there is demand. Will the product be available on CD or DVD? Doubtful.

So, what’s the “Crystal Vision?” The Audio Visual Department of 2015 may be two spaces: 1) a vibrant space for digital creation and mashing up all of our content and room to gather and pursue our hearts’ interests and 2) a space with a bunch of servers that serve out library-licensed content to library users, wherever they happen to be.