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Have a Kindle or a decent Internet connection? Those that do might be pleased to know that libraries have made videos, music, audiobooks and eBooks downloadable through the Internet.

Anyone with a library card can meander to the website, skim through the available material and proceed to checkout. People are allowed to checkout up to eight items at a time for one to three weeks.

Users have the option of downloading content to a Mac or PC. They can have the content burned to a CD or transferred to an iPod or an MP3 player. Besides that, they can load it on a Kindle. Downloads are managed through a program called OverDrive Media Console, which is like the iTunes of library media.

Having library media accessible online is great for people who are unable to travel to a local branch. They can checkout whatever they're interested in at home at their convenience. Those without a great deal of time between classes, or those looking for a new way to procrastinate, can visit here. Parents and babysitters can use this feature to quickly find something to entertain the kids.

There's also the convenience of not being able to lose the material. Fines accumulate after a while but users have the benefit of logging into a computer anywhere to return their data. Courtesy notifications are normally sent by email when material is due. For the busy or disorganized, this could be a lifesaver.

Graphic novels and comics even made their way into the fiction section. Readers can view a huge selection of single issues and books, such as the humorous "Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks" or the first issue of "X-Men: First Class." Trade paperbacks of "Alice in Wonderland" and "Ghostbusters" are also available.

Those who like listening to books will be pleased to learn that the Toledo Public Library offers 3,461 audiobooks to pick from in the fiction section alone. From the sappy, sweet "Notebook" to the suspenseful "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption," it seems the library has everything. The nonfiction section has 1,402 selections to pick from.

People who would rather blast music through their headphones will find the music section of particular interest. The section allows music fans to listen to a wide variety of songs and artists, making sure no one gets bored. Available bands range from Taking Back Sunday to Smashing Pumpkins to Pink Floyd to Beethoven and more. Even those who like to kick it to opera will find songs in that genre.

Online libraries aren't a way to replace traditional libraries, but are an expansion of library services. While books will always be a mainstay, the option to access the same material will help new authors circulate. When someone can't checkout his or her favorite book in the library, he or she might be able to download it online instead.

The children of today are growing up wired to electronics, and this new system is a good alternative when trips to the library can't be made. It's fascinating to see how libraries can be enhanced to adjust for the innovations of this age.