Important Update: Changes to Hoopla Digital Service
After careful consideration, Novi Public Library has recognized the need to make a service change to our popular digital media service, Hoopla, which provides access to eBooks, audiobooks, movies, music, and more.
Effective May 1st, the monthly checkout limit for Hoopla will be reduced from 10 items per patron to 7.
This adjustment is necessary to ensure that we can continue offering equitable access to digital resources for all of our patrons while staying within the Library’s budget.
Why are we reducing the number of hoopla checkouts?
Novi Public Library and other libraries nationwide are facing similar challenges as digital media usage continues to rise while budgets stay the same. According to a 2023 report from the American Library Association, digital book use in libraries has increased by 34% since 2019, with many libraries reporting even higher rates of usage. Read the full report here.
At Novi Public Library, we’ve seen similar growth. In 2023, our patrons borrowed 22,230 items from Hoopla, but that number surged to 30,906 in 2024—a nearly 40% increase.
With this increased usage comes increased costs. Hoopla operates on a pay-per-use model, which means the library incurs charges for each item borrowed, regardless of whether it is fully consumed. For example, Books and videos cost us around $2 per checkout, while audiobooks, the most popular—and most expensive—category, can cost as much as $3.99 each.
In 2023, our Hoopla costs totaled $48,647, but that figure has also seen an over 40% increase in 2024, reaching $68,475. Unfortunately, we anticipate even higher costs in 2025. By reducing the monthly checkout limit, we hope to better manage these rising costs and ensure that this valuable service remains available to everyone.
What can you do?
We encourage you to take advantage of Hoopla’s “Bonus Borrows” feature, available towards the end of each month. Bonus Borrows don’t count against your monthly limit, and they don’t incur any cost to the library. Additionally, we kindly ask that you consider borrowing only the titles you plan to fully enjoy. By doing so, we can help ensure that more patrons can benefit from the service.
Please Note: These changes apply only to Hoopla. Our other digital services, such as Libby/OverDrive, Kanopy, and Comics Plus, will remain unaffected.
We understand that this change may be disappointing to some, and we sincerely appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate these necessary adjustments to ensure the continued success of our digital resources.
Thank you for being a valued patron of the Novi Public Library.