Beginning July 1, Transylvania County Library will discontinue our local Hoopla service and instead focus those funds on expanding the North Carolina Digital Library collection available through Libby.

We know many people enjoy Hoopla, especially because most titles are available instantly without waitlists. This was not a decision we made lightly. Like many libraries, we’ve had to take a close look at the long-term sustainability of digital services and how to make the best use of limited public funding.

Why is the library ending Hoopla?

The biggest reason is cost.

Hoopla operates on a pay-per-checkout model, meaning the library is charged each time an item is borrowed. While this provides immediate access, it also makes costs unpredictable and significantly more expensive than other digital library models.

Currently, the average cost of a Hoopla checkout is about four times higher than a checkout through the North Carolina Digital Library (Libby). We’ve already implemented spending caps and borrowing limits to help manage costs, but even with those measures in place, Hoopla is no longer the most fiscally responsible option for our community.

By redirecting those funds to the North Carolina Digital Library, we’ll be able to:

• Purchase more eBooks and audiobooks overall
• Add additional copies of high-demand titles to reduce local wait times
• Expand the breadth of the digital collection
• Provide access to new digital magazines with no waitlists

What happens on July 1?

Beginning July 1:

• New checkouts through Transylvania County Library’s Hoopla collection will end
• Any items already borrowed before July 1 will remain available until their normal due dates
• A small statewide collection provided through NC LIVE will still appear in Hoopla

It’s important to note that the remaining NC LIVE Hoopla titles work differently than most Hoopla content has in the past. Instead of unlimited simultaneous use, these titles are one copy/one user, which means there may be holds and waitlists.

What about wait times in Libby?

We understand this is a concern for many readers and listeners.

Libby and the North Carolina Digital Library work more like a traditional library collection: libraries purchase licenses for titles, and popular items sometimes require holds. However, wait times are often shorter than they initially appear, since many people pause holds, borrow later, or return items early.

More importantly, shifting Hoopla funding into Libby will allow us to purchase additional copies of popular materials and strengthen the collection overall. These copies will prioritize Transylvania County Library cardholders, moving local patrons to the front of the line and significantly reducing wait times. Only when local demand is met will these copies be available to other North Carolina Digital Library users.

While some popular titles do have waitlists, there are always thousands of titles available immediately. Right now, the North Carolina Digital Library includes:

• more than 47,000 eBook titles available with no wait
• more than 11,000 audiobooks available instantly

There is still a tremendous amount of content available for immediate reading and listening.

New magazines are coming to Libby.

Starting in July, Transylvania County Library cardholders will be able to access a collection of thousands of digital magazines through the North Carolina Digital Library/Libby.

These magazines:

• are always available with no waitlists
• do not count against checkout limits
• can be read on phones, tablets, or computers

Titles will include publications such as National Geographic, The New Yorker, Newsweek, Cook’s Illustrated, and many others.

We’re here to help!

If you’re new to Libby or would like help finding alternatives to Hoopla favorites, library staff are happy to assist. We can help with:

• setting up Libby
• finding instantly available titles
• placing holds
• using the “Notify Me” feature for titles not yet owned
• discovering magazines, audiobooks, and other digital resources

We know changes to library services can be frustrating, especially when they affect resources people use and enjoy. Our goal is to make decisions that allow us to provide the strongest and most sustainable digital collection possible for the entire community, both now and in the future.