Beginning August 1, DCDL will implement a budget cap on our Hoopla service. This means that once the library has spent its budgeted amount of money on Hoopla checkouts per day, no more checkouts will be allowed until the next day begins.

We know you love Hoopla (and we love it, too!). So, WHY are we making the change?

Over the last two years, our spending on Hoopla has increased to the point where we have to consider a budget cap. 2022 monthly average spending was $3,700. 2023 monthly average was $5,100. 2024 monthly average is already on track for $7,100. Left unchecked, this single monthly expense threatens to grow to the point where it alone will exhaust our entire digital materials budget (which includes Libby/Ohio Digital Library and Kanopy).

HOW DOES HOOPLA WORK?
To fully understand the reason for the new limits, it’s important to know how Hoopla works. Libraries that offer hoopla agree to pay a fee for each item that patrons check out. Prices vary among items, but generally, an ebook checkout through Hoopla costs the library about $3. Movies and music cost about $1.50, and some eAudiobooks cost as much as $3.99. eAudiobooks tend to be the most expensive category (as well as the most popular), so those costs can rise quickly.

Over the past year, almost 3,000 DCDL patrons have checked out at least one item from Hoopla, and new patrons are constantly discovering the service.

FAQ

• When do these changes take place? The new budget cap will begin at midnight on Thursday, August 1, 2024.
• How will I know if the budget for the day has been exhausted? If you try to borrow something from Hoopla after total spending for the day has been reached, you will receive a message stating, “The collective daily borrow limit set by your library has been reached and will reset at midnight. Please browse and add titles to favorites so you can easily access them after midnight.”
• When does the budget reset so I can try again? We start with a fresh budget at midnight each day.
• I use Libby/Ohio Digital Library and Kanopy. Will these services also be affected? No, Kanopy and Libby borrowing is not affected by the Hoopla budget cap.
• Will this also impact Bonus Borrows? No, Bonus Borrows — selected titles that are available for the last seven days of the month — allow you to borrow additional library books, movies, and more without using your monthly Instant borrows or impacting the budget cap.