Library Officials Eye Redbox-Like Machines for Some Materials

-goers could soon be renting electronic items such as video games, DVDs or CDs from Redbox-like vending machines inside the library, officials said.

Library Executive Director Paul Mills said the library is looking into certain products from vendors to see if the machines would work for .

In June, officials said they had been having trouble with — in one case, as many as 40 CDs were taken in one day.

Library Board President Peggy Danhof said the only way to stop the issue is to make the multimedia collection off limits to browsing library patrons, and put the CDs and DVDs in a locked case.

Now, Mills said, the library's video game selection is being held in a staff area.

Having a Redbox-like machine, where card-holders can browse titles and selections without having the ability to steal them, could serve both the library and its patrons.

Mills said no fee would be associated with the machines.

"We would like to find a machine that would make our videogame collection more accessible for our patrons and provide security for the collection as well," he said.

Mills said the library's audio and video collection also eventually could be included in the machines.