We did the same, but used iTunes shares. My machine ran a really fantastic service called mt-daapd, which would periodically scan a folder, then offer everything up on iTunes (I should clarify. iTunes was used as a client to listen to the music, mt-daapd ran on a linux box under my desk).

There was a software called "ourtunes" that would let you download things from these shares. It was amazing. People would name their libraries things like "room 204"...it had a great community feel to it :).