Booth Library’s media download service is beginning to show some signs of life.

For the past three years, anyone with a valid Panther Card has been able to download videos, audiobooks and E-books directly to their computer free of charge through MyMediaMall.

Booth Library began subscribing to MyMediaMall in 2007, said Sandra Nees, LAN administrator.

MyMediaMall first came online in August 2005.

Approximately 1,500 Eastern students used MyMediaMall from July 2008 to June 2009, while approximately 1,000 Eastern students used the service between July and December 2009, according to statistics provided by Nees and David Bell, associate professor and reference librarian.

“I think more people are finding (MyMediaMall),” Bell said.

Bell said he personally has received an increased number of questions regarding the service from members of the campus community.

Pam Ortega, reference librarian, said she thinks more and more people are becoming receptive to E-books and audio books on a digital format.

Ortega said people may be more willing to use the service since the materials offered are being made more compatible with a growing variety of hardware.

When MyMediaMall first became available the files did not work with iPods, Bell said.

Nees said they still occasionally have students who ask if they have books on tape, or faculty members who request a video not in their collection, or professors who assign students to review materials through MyMediaMall.

In order to use the materials, users need to have the appropriate software dowloaded, like iTunes and Adobe Reader.

MyMediaMall also works in conjunction with a program called Overdrive, which users must download in order to take advantage of the service.

Ten million titles were checked out from Overdrive-powered libraries in 2009.

January 2010 was the first time in a single month that checkouts exceeded 1 million digital titles, according to a blog on the company’s Web site.

Some of the materials can be used for an unlimited period of time, while others, such as newer videos, expire after a few weeks, and must be returned earlier.

Booth has been hosting workshops, which help to acclimate library patrons to the service, for approximately two years. Nees said turnouts for the MyMediaMall workshops have not been very impressive so far.

The workshops’ biggest challenge is that it is currently held during the day, while many students are busy attending classes, Nees said.

The next workshop is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. today.

Despite low turnouts at the workshops, the librarians at Booth have received some positive and encouraging feedback.

Currently, there is a valentine from an anonymous student displayed on a window near the third floor bridge which reads, “I (heart) MyMediaMall.”

Jason Hardimon can be reached at 581-7942 or jrhardimon2@eiu.edu.