Library announces changes to Hoopla digital service effective January 1, 2024
Why the change to Hoopla?
Although it is free for patrons to use, the Pittsburg Public Library pays a fee for every item a patron checks out through Hoopla. Each time a patron borrows a title (even if they don’t use it), the library pays a fee—up to $3.99 per checkout.
So, the more Hoopla gets used, the more it costs the library. Even with checkout limits, the costs add up very quickly.
We think Hoopla is a great service and we want to continue to offer the service to our patrons. However, we also have to be mindful of limited library resources. In order to continue to offer the Hoopla Digital Services, the library will set a price cap on Hoopla content. This may mean some content may not be available. However, library patrons will still have thousands of digital books and audio books to choose from on Hoopla. The limit of five check outs per month remains the same.
Now the Pittsburg Public Library also offers the Libby App to library patrons.
Earlier this year, the Pittsburg Public Library joined the Sunflower eConsortium which features the popular Libby App. Joining the Sunflower eConsortium allows us to pool our resources with other Kansas libraries and offer our patrons great digital content at a more manageable price. Libby does not use the cost per checkout pricing model, as Hoopla does. With Libby, libraries purchase licenses to digital eBooks and eAudio Books. Therefore, users may have to place holds on popular items, but there are no monthly checkout limits.
The Pittsburg Public Library is dedicated to providing a great digital collection to our patrons. We thank you for your continued patronage and understanding. If you have questions, please contact us by phone at 620-231-8110, e-mail, or visit us in person. We’re happy to help in any way we can.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why are digital book collections priced differently than print collections?
Unfortunately, there are no good digital pricing models for libraries. This is because physical book sales are regulated by a legal doctrine called First Sale. When a library buys physical books or movies for their collection, they own them forever, and there’s no limit to how many times they can be checked out. Digital book collections are not included in the First Sale doctrine.
Publishers have different business models for digital materials, and they all charge libraries more for eBooks than a consumer pays—often up to five times the retail price for an eBook. Publishers don’t really sell eBooks to libraries; they lease a copy of an eBook to a library for a specified amount of time (usually one to two years). Once the license is up, libraries must either purchase it again or lose access to the eBook. (https://ebooksforall.org/index.php/faq/)
How can I sign up for Libby?
We’re glad you asked! Library staff are available to help with new technology. If you are comfortable downloading Apps, just visit https://pplonline.org/digital/ to get started. You will need your library card number and a PIN. If you don’t know your PIN, please call or stop by the library for assistance. If you would like a tutorial on Libby, you can stop by the Library’s Computer Lab or make a Device Advice appointment for one-on-one assistance.