NORFOLK, Va. — It’s considered one of the largest film collections on the East Coast, and for the last three years, archivists at Old Dominion University have taken on the task of bringing it back to the public.
The entire film catalog of Naro Expanded Video now fills the shelves of a newly renovated section of Old Dominion University’s Perry Library.
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 ODU 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. A small-scale version of the collection is available now. 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.
ODU recently hosted an event to raise money for ongoing expenses and to create the Naro Advisory Board, a group that will continue to promote the collection.
A red-carpet event to mark the official opening of the entire collection is set for March 2.