Free Music Now Available at the CHUH Public Library

Most people think of the library as a place to borrow and return books, DVDs, CDs and other items. 

But the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library is offering something that cardholders can keep. For free. 

Heights Libraries have subscribed to Freegal Music, an online service that gives people access to thousands of songs and more than 50 labels that are a part of the Sony Music catalog. Cardholders can now download three free songs per week and choose from a wide variety of genres.

"It is kind of neat because we do have some CDs that just have hundreds of holds on them," said Sheryl Banks, marketing and community relations manager for the libraries. "You can have the whole CD basically three songs at a time." 

Those interested in the service must be a CHUH Library cardholder, she said, but people can download the MP3s from anywhere. The songs can be saved to iTunes libraries, flash drives and elsewhere, and are compatible with Macs, PCs, and all MP3 players, including iPods. 

People can preview the songs before they select them to download, and can save the songs they can't keep because they've reached the maximum in a wish list folder.

There is a use-it-or-lose-it policy — patrons must use their three-song allotment that week, as it restarts to three the following week. 

"A lot of the libraries we are affiliated with were doing it, and it was just such a great service we could offer our cardholders," Banks said. "It was just a no-brainer."

Those interested in learning more about the service can visit the CHUH Library homepage and log into the Freegal Music service.