Upcoming Changes to Hoopla

In 2020, the number of monthly borrows for library users was increased from 5 to 10 in an effort to continue providing access to books and audiobooks during the pandemic. When HCMPL reopened to the public, the monthly borrow limit remained the same. Unfortunately, rising Hoopla costs and recent cuts to our funding have forced us to join libraries across the country in re-evaluating borrowing limits.

We love Hoopla because it provides instant access to the materials we want! This is possible because Hoopla uses a pay-per-use service where the library pays for each borrowed item. These fees are charged immediately upon borrowing, regardless of whether or not the title was read, listened to, or watched. As our Hoopla users grow, so do the library’s costs for providing this service. While the pay-per-borrow model eliminates waiting, it also makes costs unpredictable and difficult to budget.

The average cost per borrow has risen to nearly $2.89 for our most used formats, making our average monthly bill anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000 a month.

Starting August 2026, we will gradually decrease the number of Hoopla borrows for cardholders. This change will help us continue to provide sustainable access to a broad range of library materials, while also responsibly managing costs. We appreciate your understanding as we navigate this change.

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