March 27, 2025
The Worcester County Library will implement a daily spending cap for Hoopla services starting April 1, 2025, due to the increased cost of Hoopla Digital funded by the Eastern Shore Regional Library, Inc.
What this means for you
- Once the library's daily budget for Hoopla checkouts is reached, no further checkouts will be allowed until the following day.
- When you see this message in red, it is important to note that nothing is wrong with your account. You haven't reached your limit. Instead, the library has reached its limit for the day, and the service will open back up at midnight.
Why is this change necessary?
- Hoopla operates on a pay-per-use checkout model, with costs ranging from approximately $1.99 to $3.99 per item.
- eAudiobooks, the most popular format, are also the most expensive.
- The popularity of Hoopla has led to a significant increase in library costs, with a 300% increase since 2016.
- To ensure the sustainability of the service within budget, a daily spending cap is required.
We appreciate your understanding as we work to maintain this service within our financial limitations. The financial strain of Hoopla’s checkout model is not just a local concern, but a larger, systemic issue affecting libraries of all sizes. The Eastern Shore Regional Library, Inc. is working with the member libraries to address Hoopla’s sustainability in the future.
What should I do while I wait for Hoopla to reset at midnight?
Take a look at the available titles available through Libby by selecting “available now” under “Availability"
1. In a list or in search results, tap the icon circled in the screenshot
2. Under "Availability," select available now, then tap Show Titles.
3. (Optional) Tap the applied available now filter, then tap Pin Filter to also apply this filter to future search results and lists.
