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Library director warns commissioners digital-audiobook demand is swelling; county asks for circulation and cost data
Summary
Davidson County library leadership told commissioners that demand for eaudiobooks and ebooks is rising sharply and that per-checkout Hoopla and license models are expensive; commissioners asked the library to provide circulation and cost breakouts for 2024 and year-to-date numbers for budget consideration.
Davidson County library staff told commissioners on June 5 that electronic audiobooks and ebooks have grown rapidly and that per-checkout and license pricing models are straining the library’s contracted-services budget.
The library’s representative said two services drive digital use: Hoopla, which charges the library per checkout (typically $0.99–$3.99 per title, depending on popularity), and the OverDrive/Libby platform, where the library buys time-limited licenses (e.g., 12- or 24-month licenses) or single-copy perpetual licenses. Staff said some new audiobooks can cost more than $100 for a single title license, and Hoopla spending reached about $5,000 in a single recent month, up from roughly $3,800 a year earlier.
Commissioners asked the library to provide detailed circulation and cost data: annual 2024 counts for ebooks and eaudiobooks and year-to-date to May 2025 so the county can evaluate whether to maintain current budgeted amounts for contracted digital services or to recommend a different funding approach (such as purchasing larger digital collections or negotiating package licensing). County Manager Casey Smith said staff would review the figures and consider whether to maintain or restore prior-year budget levels for contracted services.
Library staff said digital checkouts are outpacing physical circulation growth in some categories, producing longer hold lists for popular titles; staff described strategies such as purchasing additional copies of popular digital titles or exploring aggregate content providers as possible mitigations. Commissioners requested the circulation and expenditure breakdown so they could assess options during final budget decisions.
