The MidPointe Library System has announced upgraded availability to nearly a million digital library materials as they increase borrowing terms on the popular hoopla platform. Starting September 1, patrons will now have access to 20 “Instant Borrows” and 20 “Flex Borrows,” an increase from the previous limit of 15 each.
A part of the MidPointe Library System eLibrary platform for nearly a decade, hoopla use has steadily grown over the last nine years with nearly 23,000 patrons using the service. A recent uptick in borrowing, up 21% in the last year, prompted MidPointe to reevaluate borrowing limits.
The popularity of hoopla speaks to the way MidPointe patrons utilize their library and its varied offerings. Patrons can access the over 950,000 eBooks, eAudiobooks, comics, movies, music and television titles available for free on hoopla at any time. Data indicates that borrowers most frequently download materials later in the evening, when library branches have closed for the day. They also have immediate access to popular titles digitally that may have significantly longer wait times for a physical copy.
“Our mission is to be a valuable community resource, available to all, that contributes to the quality of life in eastern Butler County,” said Travis Bautz, MidPointe Library System’s executive director. “This change helps us do just that, by enabling our patrons to access all the material they want in a way that is convenient to them.”
Across MidPointe’s eLibrary, which includes hoopla, the Ohio Digital Library (Libby), Kanopy, TumbleBooks and Lote4Kids, patrons checked out over half a million items in 2023. This represents a quarter of the over 2 million items checked out from the System in 2023.
