Monday, August 6, 2012

Library Ideas- Freegal







Freegal
Publisher/Creator: Library Ideas, LLC




Genre: Music Database
Interest Age: All Ages


About Freegal and Critical Evaluation:
Freegal stands for free and legal music. The idea behind this database is that with a library card, a person can download three songs a week for free. The songs are theirs after they are downloaded. As the video above shows, the person simply puts in their library card number in and can become logged into the database. There is a search function as well as a browse function. The library purchases the music and then the patrons are able to download three songs a week. Freegal keeps count and it resets every Monday morning.

This is a great database when thinking about teenagers. So many teens are illegally downloading music and it has been causing many problems over the last decade. With Freegal, they are able to download for free, but are limited so the artists are still being paid and there are no legal problems. This website is easy to use and the library can cater to the patron's likes.

About Library Ideas, LLC:
Library Ideas, LLC is a privately owned company based out of Fairfax, Virginia. It was started in 2008 by a group of publishing editors. They wanted to find a way to help libraries get digital resources to the public in a free and legal way. This company has created Freegal, Freading, and Rocket Languages. Freading is an e-book service libraries can purchase and Rocket Languages is a translator.

Library Ideas serves a vast variety of libraries from academic libraries, to school and public libraries. Because each library is different, they are able to create their own collection based on what their patrons want to read or listen to. The company plans to expand their services and collections to other services as well.

http://www.libraryideas.com/about-html.html

Curriculum Ties:
Copyright Laws

Book Talking:
N/A

Challenging Issues:
If this database were to be challenged, I would go through the selection process with the challenger as well as explain the rationale for it. There are many good qualities in this publication that could be reason to have it in a collection.

Why Read this:
This database creates an environment where libraries can provide citizens with free music in a legal way. This is great for teens who are very drawn to different kinds of music and want to express themselves through music. 

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