A surge in the number of movies checked out from Bracken Library has the library's dean open to an idea raised by students two years ago — installing a Redbox DVD rental kiosk in the school's landmark home for books.
Arthur Hafner, dean of university libraries, said he is receptive to considering adding the self-service rental box to keep up with the demand for new releases as students and faculty checking out DVDs has almost tripled in the last five years.
"I would be receptive to considering a Redbox, even on Bracken," he said. "I don't think it would make a serious impact on libraries; it would be very convenient for students to check movies that were released recently."
Bracken Library allows individuals to check out up to five movies at a time for up to 12 days. A Redbox could have newer titles, but would cost money to see the movies.
Redbox, which has more than 22,000 kiosks across the country, charges a $1 fee for rentals.
Since 2005 the library's collection of DVDs has increased from 695 to 2,598 titles. The library attempts to stock new releases, it is not always possible for them to have the new releases out on the actual day, Hafner said.
"We have a good collection of recent DVDs, but whenever a DVD is released, even if we got the DVD the same day, we have to categorize them."
This is not the first time there have been discussions of having a Redbox kiosk at Ball State. The Campus Alliance slate campaigned successfully on the issue two years ago during the 2008 Student Government Association executive slate elections.
DVDs make up about a fifth of all items circulating in the library the past five years.
Hafner said the library has a good collection and even more convenient for Ball State students.
"Students can keep the movies up to 12 days. We're open early in the morning to late at night; we're open for longer than those other DVD rental stores," he said.
As of last fiscal year, about a third of DVDs bought are a result of faculty requests and half are student requests. Suzanne Rice, assistant dean for public services, said the demand will continue growing.
Besides DVDs, Bracken library still offers VHS videotapes and even 16 millimeter films. In addition there are individual rooms at the library to for students to use equipment and view the films.
"We want to have as many resources as possible to make it accessible for students to watch the movies they check out," he said.
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