With cable television fees becoming really oppressive, I have recently cut off my cable service. I have also gained a lot of experience checking out DVDs at the library and have become a kind of expert. I have mastered the system so that I can be sure to have up to a dozen films waiting for me every two weeks, giving me plenty to watch at home. Please read my original post on
Free Movie Rentals for an introduction to this topic and then read below for a detailed description of my approach to successfully using the library system as a DVD rental service.
The List: As new movies come out, I add them to a list and about 6-12 months after the film comes out, I can usually find it in the library's database. The more popular films and blockbusters frequently have a long waiting list, and there is a limited number of films that you can add to your hold request queue, so it's important to develop a system for choosing which films to request; otherwise, you end up filling up your queue with DVDs that won't be available for check-out for several months or more. It's good to mix in some older films on your list that you have wanted to see for a long time; this helps fill out your queue when you're waiting for newer films to become available.
Available Now: My system starts with looking closely at the Availability section for each film and see how many free copies are in circulation. This is important because libraries have discovered that they can make money renting out DVDs for a fee (go figure!) and so many newer films have limited copies that you can check out for free. (Libraries charging for DVDs? Yeah, don't even get me started.) Films copies that are only available for a fee will be indicated with a dollar-sign icon or something like "DVD-Fee." If there is only one free copy in stock, especially with new films, you may not be able to put it on hold until it ages (DVDs in the new category will say "NEW" next to the shelving category). For instance, the library system in my county has a 3-month period after the DVD has been acquired during which you can not put that title on hold. The next thing to look for is the check out status of the free copies. If all the free copies are checked out or on hold, chances are there will be a long wait for that film. Ideally, you want to see several copies in the free category listed as "IN." If you place hold requests for films by keeping an eye on these factors, you are likely to move items quickly through your queue and into your DVD player.
The Check-Out and Return Cycle: Once you have placed requests for DVDs, you then have to keep track of requests as they become available and are held for you at your branch. Holds are placed for a limited amount of time which varies with different library systems, so you need to pick up the movies before the hold is lifted. Each film will also have its own rental period; some can be checked out for longer periods than others, and some items will be available for renewal while others will not. Once you check out the films, you will want to watch the ones that need to be returned first (I separate my DVDs into two separate stacks to manage this). Those that have the possibility to be renewed, if you have not yet watched them by the end of the rental period, you can renew online to buy some more time. Try to refrain from renewing at the start of the check-out period because it won't add any time onto your existing deadline.
And that's it! Once you get a hang of it and understand the ins and outs of your library's system, you'll wonder why you didn't try this sooner. And if you find yourself having to let go of your cable tv service, you may find that between online viewing and your library rentals, you don't even miss TV--I know I don't! Happy viewing!
