Chicago Public Library cardholders will be able to download free movies and magazines through the library's new website, launched on Thursday.
The new website, which appears to be inspired in design by Pinterest, has a browse tab near the top that will direct users to Zinio and Hoopla. Users will have to sign up to access those programs by entering their library card number.
Cardholders can download magazines such as The Beer Connoisseur, Billboard, Cosmopolitan, Esquire and ESPN through Zinio. Movies including "The Big Lebowski" and shows like the British version of "The Office" can be downloaded through Hoopla.
Users can get four Hoopla downloads a month, while there is no limit for Zinio.
The homepage features cards on recommended books, events and news, and can be easily shared on social media.
Users can keep a history of what books they check out and a wish list of books they want to borrow on the new site, which is responsive, meaning it's adaptable to smartphones and tablets. They can also rate book titles and write reviews of books, movies and music to share with other library users.
The new redesign by software company BiblioCommons was funded by a $1 million grant from the library foundation, according to a news release.
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