NORFOLK, Va. — Movie lovers can soon check out thousands of films that used to be on the shelves of the now-closed Naro Expanded Video store.
"Naro Video @ ODU Libraries" will open for the public to borrow its more than 43,000 titles, beginning on March 11.
The longtime video store, one of the last of its kind in the area, closed its doors in 2019. But the owners worked out a deal with Old Dominion University to keep the massive film collection intact.
The 4,600 square-foot space in the Perry Library is the collection’s new home that students and anyone can enjoy.
Students and staff can rent movies for free, and members of the public can pay $50 or $100 a year, depending on how many films you check out weekly.
With the cost of streaming services soaring, many cable cutters are looking at ways to supplement their screen time entertainment with a more cost-effective option, and this may be a good option. Many of the titles are rare, and from all over the world, so they can’t be found on all streaming services.
The space also pays tribute to Naro Expanded Video, whose owners donated the entire collection when the store closed in 2019.