The rise of Netflix prices may cause University students to re-evaluate where they can watch movies.

While $9.99 is the current monthly price for an unlimited amount of instant movie streaming through the computer and one DVD at a time through the mail, the package is being split up. Customers will be charged $7.99 a month for each part of this previously packaged deal, totaling $15.98 a month for both components. For new members, these changes are immediate; for current subscribers, the changes will take effect Sept. 1.

For University students and community residents, renting movies at their local library is an alternative way to watch movies.

Anne Phillips, director of Adult Services at The Urbana Free Library, said that in April, 16,759 entertainment DVDs and 1,633 documentaries were checked out. That number includes DVDs that were checked out multiple times, because the library’s media collection holds only 12,915 entertainment DVDS and 7,026 documentaries and international films, she said.

“What we’re really proud of is our international collection,” Phillips said of the 47 languages carried.

She added that the international films appeal to the residents of the community whose members have different ethnic and racial backgrounds.

Phillips said the movies are available to check out free of charge, and the collection has been around for the 20 years she has worked at the library.

Around campus, students and C-U residents also have the option of receiving the movie experience in one of the local theaters.

Steven Bentz, director of Virginia Theatre in Champaign, said the theater plays classic films or recent releases, has special themed events, hosts the Ebertfest film festival and is a venue for concerts.

Regarding the rise of other movie-watching mediums like Netflix or Redbox, he said “we don’t feel like it’s been an issue here.”

Bentz added that the movie theater has state-of-the-art film projectors, clear images and full digital surround sound for moviegoers.

“We’re a full-size 1,500 seat auditorium with a huge, full-size screen,” he said. “It’s just a completely different experience.”

Bentz said going to the movies is a social event.

“The experience itself is much richer,” he said. “The senses are a bit more entertained.”

However, he added that there is also an advantage to renting movies from Netflix or Redbox because it provides a quick response and gives customers instant gratification.

Laura-Ann Lambert, senior from Trinity College, Dublin, said she mostly watches her movies online.

“Ease of accessibility, more than anything else — you can just pick what you want there and then,” she said. “And then have it at your convenience.”

The disadvantages of streaming it online, though, can include the quality and speed of streaming, she added.

David Ward, reference services librarian at the Undergraduate Library, said the media collections department in the Undergraduate Library has been operating for the past 20 years. Open circulation, however, has been functioning for the past five years, allowing students to check out movies. Before open circulation, University students were able to watch movies with time constraints similar to class reserves, he said.

“It’s the highest circulating part of the Undergraduate Library,” Ward said. “It’s pretty popular. They (University students) seem to be using it quite a bit.”