Oof, when did streaming movies, games, and music get so expensive?

Cable used to be the only game in town for wide entertainment. Sure, if you wanted to subscribe to a game like EverQuest or World of Warcraft, you could (and well, guess the rest of us were never seeing you again). But for variety, cable is what you had—and it wasn’t cheap. So when streaming services came along, they seemed like an answer to everyone’s budget prayers. These days there’s a digital subscription available for most interests, including gaming. And individually, they’re affordable. Or at least, they were. Xbox Game Pass just went up in cost. (Even if you use the conversion hack to get it cheaper.) So did PlayStation Plus. GeForce Now so far is exempt, but PC gamers haven’t been able to sit assured about much these days. Meanwhile, on the TV and movies side of things, Netflix is rumored to be raising prices yet again. Disney+ and Discovery+ have already announced hikes. And in an extremely annoying variation of shrinkflation, Amazon Prime Video and multiple services are adding adverts to their basic streaming plans (or have already done so). As for music, Spotify also got more expensive, sending notice to subscribers with little fanfare. Streaming was great when you were paying less than $25 per month for all the content you could want. But now subscribing to even three services ad-free runs almost $50 per month. Let’s say you want regular access to Game Pass, Netflix, and Disney Plus—that’s already $40 to start with, if you’re only a PC... Continue reading at 'PC World'

[ PC World | 2023-10-04 14:10:27 UTC ]

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A History of Racism in American Public Libraries

A deep dive into the history of racism in American public libraries, including the effects of Jim Crow laws and racism in libraries today. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-03-08 11:30:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Has a Responsibility to Stop Anti-Trans Misinformation

I’ll be the first to acknowledge Amazon and I make rather strange bedfellows. Raised on local libraries and used bookstores, I’ve long been a loyal customer to many of the indie bookshops cornered by the world’s largest online retailer, prizing them as community centers and places to find a... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-03-08 09:49:14 UTC ]
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House Introduces Bill Seeking $5 Billion for Library Facilities

The Build America’s Libraries Act was introduced in the House of Representatives this week by Reps. Andy Levin (D-MI) and Don Young (R-AK) and would provide $5 billion to address decades of needed repairs, updates, as well as the construction of modern library facilities in underserved and... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-03-05 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Libraries Offering Services to Seniors During COVID-19 Pandemic

Taking a look at libraries offering services to seniors during the pandemic, with programs for memory care, vaccine roll-out, and more. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-03-03 11:33:00 UTC ]
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What Do Libraries Do?: 7 Services Your Public Library (Probably) Offers

"What do libraries do?" You may be surprised by these seven basic services your public library offers for free, including job search help. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-03-01 11:30:00 UTC ]
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Libraries are lifelines

The Library Campaign has warned that hundreds of libraries may close not only for the pandemic, but permanently. With councils under financial strain and Walsall’s council leader even asking, “Do we need [them]?”, the future of libraries needs protecting. Libraries are an indispensable service... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-03-01 00:31:07 UTC ]
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Today in late capitalism: Here is a coloring book that teaches children about credit.

Can you think of a single feel-good news story from the past five years that isn’t, at its core, an indictment of the society in which we live? Here at Lit Hub, one of our most-read stories last year was “Big-hearted strangers turn Little Free Libraries into Little Free Pantries.” While I don’t... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-02-23 16:10:35 UTC ]
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8 Wonderful Libraries to Visit Post-Pandemic

If you're planning some bookish trips for the future, don't miss adding these gorgeous libraries to visit post-pandemic to the list. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-02-22 11:30:00 UTC ]
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Canadian libraries increasingly scrapping late fees to boost access to services

Long considered a tool to encourage patrons to return materials on time, in the past few years hundreds of public libraries have decided late fees do more harm than good by keeping away low-income and disadvantaged readers.  Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2021-02-21 09:00:00 UTC ]
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Getting Lost in the Libraries of Paris Researching WWII

The American Library in Paris sits in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Its collection of 100,000 books is spread over three stories. Members from 60 countries can work at long tables or whisper at the coffee machine. As the programs manager, I oversaw the ALP’s weekly Evening with an Author... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-02-19 09:48:59 UTC ]
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Academic Libraries Aren’t Just for Writing Papers

Cast aside your assumptions about academic libraries. You'd be surprised what absolute gems of nerdery you can find in a college library. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-02-08 11:30:00 UTC ]
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Tired of buying airport books? These airports are installing Little Free Libraries.

A great idea! Marshall University students in Bret Masters’s building technology class are currently building bookshelves to install Little Free Libraries in Yeager and Huntington Tri-State Airports. The idea for the project was originated by Kelli Johnson, associate librarian at Marshall, when... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-02-02 18:12:16 UTC ]
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10 Tidbits About Libraries for Visually Impaired and Print Disabled People

Get to know the work and services of libraries for the visually impaired and print disabled people around the world. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-01-29 11:32:00 UTC ]
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New Nonprofit to Advocate for Digital Content in Libraries

Among the group's priorities will be to advocate for “less restrictive" e-book licenses and new digital licenses that would allow libraries to "own" digital works with the same associated rights as print materials. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-01-27 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Behold these cute phone booth libraries from around the world.

Short of becoming a time machine for well-meaning Gen X slackers, I cannot imagine a grander afterlife for the humble phone booth than to be reincarnated as a cosy wee library. One day you’re a rusted urinal, all-but invisible to the cellphone-clasping masses trundling past, and the next you’ve... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-01-25 17:54:55 UTC ]
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School Libraries and Their Fight Against Fake News

A school librarian talks about how he teaches students to think critically about fake news on the internet. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-01-25 11:30:00 UTC ]
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How Libraries Can Help Us Make a More Perfect Union

Throughout our history, we've see that when we come together in civil, honest conversations based on facts and science, history and truth, we find commonality. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-01-22 05:00:00 UTC ]
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If you miss visiting the library, try the Internet Archive’s new virtual browsing tool.

It’s been a bad year for libraries and those who love them. Despite some interesting tech innovations (we could have been cleaning our books with UV rays this whole time!), many temporarily reopened libraries are closing again due to surging COVID numbers and COVID exposures, and many other... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-01-11 18:26:49 UTC ]
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Boats, Bread, and Biblioburros: Unusual Libraries Around the World

Explore libraries that have unusual collections, exist in strange places, or use novel modes of transportation to deliver books to readers. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-01-11 11:30:00 UTC ]
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2020 was a great year for at least one thing: digital book loans from public libraries.

If you, like me, could really use some nice library-oriented news right about now, you’re in luck. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the impossibility of going to physical libraries for much of the year, readers borrowed record numbers of ebooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines from public... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-01-07 15:34:02 UTC ]
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