Discontinuing hoopla: Information & FAQs
Posted By: Tina Walker Davis
Date Posted: 4/23/2025
After careful consideration and a thorough analysis of costs, Deschutes Public Library will discontinue its hoopla Digital subscription effective June 30, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. (PST). This difficult decision was made after careful consideration of increasing subscription costs that are financially unsustainable.
We remain committed to digital access and invite you to explore our other electronic resources: eBooks and digital audiobooks on Libby/OverDrive, as well as streaming movies, documentaries, and children’s programming on Kanopy. If you are a hoopla user, library staff are available to help you transition to these platforms and find materials you’re looking for; we also offer a suite of how-to guides on our website for using resources like Libby/OverDrive and Kanopy. We appreciate your understanding as we work to maintain quality library services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Deschutes Public Library getting rid of hoopla?
hoopla is one of the library’s most expensive digital products, and its pay-per-use model has created unpredictable costs that strain the library’s budget. Unlike traditional lending where the library can determine how many copies or licenses to purchase, libraries pay a fee each time a customer borrows a piece of content through hoopla (eBook, audiobook, movie, etc.). This pricing model has proved unsustainable for many library districts across the county, with a growing number moving away from hoopla in recent years. Fewer than 8% of Deschutes Public Library card holders use hoopla in an average month; however, hoopla consumed more than 19% of the library’s total collections budget.
Will you still offer eBooks, digital audiobooks, and streaming movies?
Yes. eBooks and digital audiobooks are available to customers through Libby/OverDrive. Streaming movies, documentaries, and children’s programming are available via Kanopy. Both Libby/OverDrive and Kanopy can be accessed through a web browser or by using the apps (www.deschuteslibrary.org/books/downloads).
Are there wait times for titles on Libby/OverDrive?
For certain eBooks and audiobooks there can be. But there is no wait time on roughly 70% of the digital items available on Libby/OverDrive. When using Libby/OverDrive on the web or in the app, you can filter to see items that are available for immediate download with no waiting. These are great options to access when waiting for your hold to come available on an eBook or digital audiobook. Movies, documentaries, and television shows on Kanopy are available to stream without waiting.
I’m a hoopla user. Is there something I need to do after June 30?
No action is required on your part. After June 30, you will no longer be able to check items out on hoopla using your Deschutes Public Library card number. Items checked out before 5:00 p.m. on June 30 on hoopla will likely stay in your hoopla account for the length of the borrowing period (21 days for eBooks, digital audiobooks, and comics; 7 days for music albums; and 72 hours for movies and television shows).
How expensive are eBooks and digital audiobooks on hoopla?
Libraries have to buy a license to add an eBook or audiobook to their collections through Libby/OverDrive. hoopla, however, operates on a pay-per-use model, meaning a potentially unlimited number of people can check out an eBook or audiobook at one time. In this way, fees charged to the library by hoopla can be unpredictable, can add up quickly, and can outpace licensing fees. Staying with a licensing model for eBooks and digital audiobooks, instead of pay-per-use, allows the library to control and predict spending.
I’d like more information about how eBook and audiobook licensing works for libraries.
Please check out these articles for a deeper dive on the cost of eBooks for libraries:
https://bookriot.com/library-hoopla-subscription-costs/
https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2024/06/10/e-book-demand-indianapolis-public-library-budget
https://www.axios.com/2024/05/06/library-librarians-e-books-license-policies
https://www.spokanelibrary.org/the-true-cost-of-ebooks-and-audiobooks-for-libraries/
Can’t the bond money you’re using for new libraries pay for more eBooks?
Bond funds can only be used to pay for construction of new buildings and major renovations or improvements to existing buildings. Bond funds cannot be used for ongoing operational expenses, such as staffing, maintenance, or replenishing items for the collection.
Who can I contact if I have more questions or feedback?
Please reach out to us using the form you’ll find at www.deschuteslibrary.org/about/contact