A joint effort of Murfie and the Madison Public Library has produced Yahara Music Library, an online library of music from local artists, the organizations announced recently.

“Everyone (on the project team) got more and more excited over time as we discussed the full potential for things like this to make the library a catalyst for local music,” Preston Austin of Murfie said. “We think it may be the coolest software we’ve ever built.”

The collection includes albums from The Gomers, Natty Nation and Ben Sidran. All South Central Library System card holders may stream and download the music for personal use.

According to Austin, the concept was first implemented by the Iowa City Public Library, which named it “Local Music Project.” It took about a year for he and Guy Hankel of the Madison Public Library to find the time, money and support to begin the endeavor.

By the end of the year, Austin hopes to see the collection expand to 75 titles, with an additional 50 every subsequent year. He also hints that other local art, such as video, audiobooks and photography, may be added some day, if there’s enough interest.

“The capital investment here is substantial, and ultimately for its value to be realized, Yahara Music Library needs to be a vehicle through which fans, artists and community build value together,” Austin said, “the tool itself is a means to that end.”