WF Library Launches New Streaming App, Book Vending Machine

In the war between Netflix, YouTube, cable and network, there’s an old–time entertainment standby you may have forgotten about.

A lot of us may think of libraries as being old–school and maybe a bit outdated.

But that impression itself may be a little behind the times, as West Fargo is now offering streaming services and the state’s first book vending machine.

“iPads are available for checkout, kindles are available for checkout. Oops, all our digital cameras are checked out,” said Sandra Hannahs, West Fargo Library Director.

If you think most Americans have checked out when it comes to consuming books, reading and libraries, think again.

Librarians checked out that theory and say, it’s pretty much fiction, especially when it comes the ever–present digital device.

“That is not at all true. First of all, when they’re using electronic media, they’re often using libraries,” said Hannahs.

Some studies show library use has stayed relatively steady in the past couple of years, and increased during the recession, in part because of cheap, easy access to digital resources, not to mention the free entertainment.

“As a matter of fact, most of West Fargo’s library patrons, 85 percent or so, are using old-school books instead of digital media,” said Hannahs. “Sometimes it’s because the book they want isn’t available for e-readers or other devices, and sometimes it’s just because they prefer the experience of a real book instead of a device.”

The book vending machine on the growing south side is more for their customer’s convenience, not economic necessity. That’s where the bulk of the city’s development has been, and many find it more convenient to hit Fargo’s south side branch, librarians said.

“Today’s society wants things to go to them, more than they want to go to the things,” said Hannahs, who doesn’t believe that the new streaming service or book vending machine eliminate the need for a new library facility.