If you are an avid hoopla user you might have experienced some difficulties in the past few months. Attempting to check something out has probably resulted in the following message:

Many of you have called the library with questions about your account. Be assured that there is nothing wrong with your account if you are getting this message. It is definitely a hoopla specific issue, and is affecting all patrons. 

The problem arises from the hoopla lending mode which is basically a pay-per-view model of borrowing materials. Every checkout from hoopla costs a certain amount ranging from $.39 to $3.99. The library pays that amount each time an item is checked out. 

Like all of you, Joplin Public Library operates on a budget. The amount budgeted for hoopla each month is $3,000. Hoopla takes that amount and divides it by the number of days in a month and that is how much budgeted for each each day. For instance, November has 30 days so the daily budget is $100. Once that budget limit is reached no more checkouts can occur that day. 

You may think that $100 a day is a lot of money. So why are we running out before noon each day? The majority of our Hoopla checkouts are adult audiobooks and those are the most expensive items on Hoopla. The average cost for adult audiobooks is $2.78 each, which means we’re hitting our budgeted limit after 35 checkouts. 

So, how do you keep getting materials?

First, we recommend our patrons check out the Libby platform. Libby has a different lending model, similar to physical items at the library, in that you can check out items that are “in” immediately, but if someone has already checked it “out”, you can place the item on hold (up to 15 at a time), and be notified when it’s available. If what you love about hoopla is being able to immediately check out an item, we suggest you sort materials by what is “available now”.  Unlike hoopla, you are not limited to only 3 checkouts per month, and it does not reach budget caps like hoopla. Even checking for an item on Libby before hoopla can be helpful to keep our costs down on hoopla.  If you’d like help setting up access to Libby, please contact the Reference desk in person or by calling (417) 623-7953 ext 1034.

Patrons are also encouraged to check the Library catalog for books you’re interested in reading.  We often have shorter waits (or none at all) on books that may have long holds on Libby.  While this requires a trip to the Library, our circulation desk can collect hold items for you, allowing you to complete the checkout process quickly, or we have lockers available so you can access books you’ve checked out after hours.  

Finally, books with really high interest are often purchased by our Friends of the Joplin Public Library group for our Lucky Day Collection. These books are available on the top of our “new” items and are available on a first come, first served basis.  Two books from this collection may be checked out at a time, for two weeks each.

Happy reading!